HCM CITY — HCM City’s investigation police on May 17 started legal proceedings against three men arrested in connection with the murder of two volunteers from a team set up to protect residents.

Two suspects, Nguyễn Tấn Tài, 24, from District 12, and Nguyễn Hoàng Châu Phú, 24, from Hóc Môn District were arrested on suspicion of stealing and murder. The other suspect Ngô Văn Hùng, 32, from Gò Vấp District is being prosecuted for concealing a criminal.

On Sunday night, Phú and Tài were attempting to steal a Honda SH scooter parked in front of clothing store on Cách Mạng Tháng 8 Street in District 3 when they were detected by a team of seven “street knights” or robber-hunter group.

After being besieged by the team, the two suspects allegedly took out knives and aggressively fought back.

Two members of the volunteer team, Nguyễn Hoàng Nam, a 29-year-old truck driver, and Nguyễn Văn Thôi, a 42-year-old motorbike taxi driver, died immediately after being stabbed. Three other men were injured.

A camera that recorded the incident showed Tài stabbing five of the so-called “street knights” within 13 seconds. After the incident, Tài and Phú ran away but on Monday morning, Phú was summoned by police and reported the place where Tài was hiding. Tài was detected at Hùng’s house in the evening of the same day.

According to police, Tài, Phú and Hùng had previous convictions for gambling, stealing and robbing respectively.

HCM City has been notorious for street robbery for years. The robber hunter groups in the city were established by local volunteers to curb crime. — VNS