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Background: News footage of Anthawn Ragan in court on Jan. 29 (WPLG). Inset: Aaron Vu (Dignity Memorial).
On Thursday, Ragan pleaded guilty to 14 felonies tied to an armed robbery that ended the life of 10-year-old Aaron Vu. This incident occurred amidst a series of criminal acts that Ragan committed over a month-long period more than a decade ago. During the same robbery, Ragan also shot Aaron’s father, Hai Vu, resulting in an additional guilty plea for attempted murder.
The chilling events unfolded when Ragan, accompanied by another suspect, stormed a nail salon on November 22, 2013. Surveillance footage captured the duo aggressively demanding money from the salon’s employees and patrons. In a horrifying escalation, Ragan began shooting, tragically wounding both Aaron and his father before fleeing the scene with his accomplice.
Both Vu and his young son were rushed to a nearby hospital. Heartbreakingly, 10-year-old Aaron did not survive the ordeal, leaving a community in mourning and a family shattered by senseless violence.
Vu and his son were taken to the hospital, where the 10-year-old boy died.
Local NBC affiliate WTVJ reported that Ragan was expected to go to trial on Thursday and instead offered a plea. He also waived a jury for the penalty phase of his trial, leaving the decision to the judge. When he went on trial for the murder of 21-year-old Luis Perez, a jury decided on a life sentence, sparing him the death penalty.
The death penalty is still on the table for the first-degree murder conviction stemming from Aaron’s death. Ragan may also receive another life sentence without the possibility of parole, the same sentence he received in the case for Perez’s murder.
Ragan is scheduled to be back in court for sentencing on Feb. 4.