Kim Anh murders

Background

The Kim Anh is a Vietnamese restaurant owned by the Vu family, originally founded in New Orleans East by Nguyet Nguyen and Bich Vu. Vu immigrated from Vietnam in 1981, with his wife and children following in 1991. By 1995, the four Vu children—Ha (24), Chau (23), Quoc (18), and Cuong (17)—worked in the kitchen. Ha and Cuong were planning to join the Catholic clergy. The restaurant also ran a grocery store in an attached part of the building. Two off-duty NOPD officers served as security guards: Antoinette Frank and Ronald Austin 'Ronnie' Williams II, who sometimes partnered on police duty.

Murders

On the evening of March 3, 1995, around 9 p.m., Antoinette Frank phoned the Kim Anh from the 7th District Police Station, asking if she was needed for security. Chau Vu told her that Ronnie Williams was already there. After her shift ended at 11 p.m., Frank changed out of her uniform, picked up Rogers LaCaze, and drove to the restaurant in her red-white Ford Torino. LaCaze stayed in the car while Frank entered, ordered cold drinks, and told co-owner Nguyet Nguyen and Williams that LaCaze was her nephew and they were going to a midnight movie.

They left after receiving the beverages. Nguyen decided to close early due to slow business and went home, leaving $10,000 on a table for plumbing and parking lot costs. Six employees remained, including Williams. At about 12:15 a.m., Frank called again to place a food order.

She and LaCaze returned minutes later; Frank introduced LaCaze as her nephew. The staff brought out food in styrofoam containers, but the pair ate inside. Chau noticed LaCaze's short stature, golden grills, and cell phone; Quoc noted LaCaze staring at him. The two left without finishing their meal.

Outside, Frank asked about the next day's security detail; Chau, after consulting Williams, said it was unnecessary. Williams then told Chau he did not trust Frank. Unbeknownst to staff, Frank had stolen a front door key from Quoc during the night.

Aftermath and later developments

Officer Williams was interred in Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery on March 7, 1995, and his name was inscribed on the Memorial Wall at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. The Vu family kept the restaurant open at the original site for a decade until Hurricane Katrina caused flood damage in 2005, and post-storm looters stole jewelry that Ha and Cuong had been wearing when killed. Quoc Vu and his mother Nguyet then sold the location, reopening the restaurant in Harahan and moving their residence to Metairie.

On July 23, 2015, retired district judge Michael Kirby threw out Rogers LaCaze's conviction and ordered a new trial, citing juror misconduct—a juror had hidden that he was a Louisiana state trooper, which legally barred him from jury service. An appellate court later overturned the new trial order. LaCaze was re-sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on December 13, 2019, and is serving his sentence at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in West Feliciana Parish.