The "Born to Kill" gang David Thai

1 born kill gang

1.1 formation
1.2 counterfeit watches
1.3 double homicide on canal street
1.4 conflict hip sing tong

1.4.1 funeral of vinh vu


1.5 extortion , murder of sen van ta

the born kill gang
formation

image of modern day canal street, location of born kill gang s former territory

in june 1989, in japanese restaurant in manhattan, david thai orchestrated first major gathering of born kill gang, in every gang member attended. @ time, born kill gang , many of vietnamese gangs in new york in general small unconnected groups each had own designated gang name , loosely affiliated 1 another. during meeting however, david made strictly clear of many separate vietnamese factions within city go under single name , banner: born kill, override other name of smaller groups had chosen themselves. result, instead of being loose confederation of loosely associated gangs, born kill , vietnamese gangs in city coalesced single criminal organization on act under united hierarchical leadership system, david thai head or anh hai of newly established collective.

in course of meeting, david thai had forced of gang members wished join gang sign paper contract passed table table throughout meeting. contract emphasized point gang members had swear allegiance gang, never cooperate police, , importantly, according thai, never undertake criminal action without permission of local gang underboss. david did however, according contract, permit gang members leave gang, under condition scrape btk tattoos off skin , leave vicinity of new york altogether , never return.

counterfeit watches

a counterfeit rolex watch bought in new york city

thai’s lucrative source of income sale of fake rolex , cartier watches, industry had spent several years trying monopolize. thai’s primary method of forcing local merchants , shopkeepers in canal street buy watches simple; leader of violent band of criminals, thai didn’t need subtle: “buy watches or i’ll kill you.” on other occasions, david went out on own present himself conciliator between local merchants , own gang, claiming stop vietnamese youths extorting , robbing businesses, if purchased merchandise.

in 1988, thai s profits grew, new york police became increasingly aware of thai’s illegal watch business; raided canal street store on multiple occasions. in response, on 1 instance, when police gathered in front of david’s store on canal street, thai ordered members shower police firecrackers top of building. after several successive police raids however, thai claimed have cost him $100,000, thai decided order 1 of gang members blow police vehicle. explosion severely damaged unattended police vehicle , wounded 2 officers while eleven bystanders suffered minor injuries. in instance, when thai’s illegal counterfeit watch business came under watchful eye of private investigator leech, david rumored have put contract on leech’s life.

in 1989, thai charged criminal possession of forgery devices, being accused of possessing 41 printing stamps allegedly used alter 2000 wristwatches imprinting them brand names such rolex , cartier. david moved dismiss charges, contending fact possession of forgery devices fails prove acted intent defraud. thai’s motion dismiss charges denied.

when david thai arrested on murder charges alongside several other indictments, boasted on tv program 48 hours made $13 million sale of counterfeit watches in 1988 alone.

double homicide on canal street

on afternoon of august 5, 1989, david thai standing in front of shopping mall @ middle of gang s territory on canal street alongside few of associates, 2 members of flying dragons approached thai , began insulting thai , gang. conflict escalated when 1 of flying dragons members spat on sidewalk of canal street, signal of disrespect towards thai , entire btk. in response, thai went of asian shopping mall , pho hanoi restaurant cellar retrieved 2 hand guns proceeded hand 2 nearby btk members, telling them go shoot motherfuckers. 1 of 2 btk members given gun ran front of shopping mall 2 flying dragons had insulted thai, , in broad daylight on canal street, pulled out .38 caliber pistol , shot dead 2 flying dragon members, 1 of them being shot in side of head, while other shot through lung , aorta. afterwards, store owners around canal street began closing down stores. despite double murder being witnessed several of shopkeepers, when law enforcement came, none of them admitted witnessing it, due fear of retaliation btk.

conflict hip sing tong

united under leadership of thai, btk brazenly committed crimes , robberies whenever , wherever wanted, because according david, since chinatown’s traditional power structure did not include vietnamese, vietnamese therefore not bounded rules , laws of community. gang had also, result of belief, not sworn allegiance particular tongs or triad, unlike many of contemporary gangs, , such, frenziedly robbed establishments under control of other chinatown crime syndicates; on 1 occasion, group of 6 gang members robbed gambling den @ 1 catherine street, in stripped several of customers (including tong leaders) in basement of gambling den of cash, jewelry, , credit cards.

sometime in summer of 1990, david thai requested attend meeting kai sui “benny” ong, adviser-for-life of hip sing tong, otherwise known chinatown community godfather of chinatown or chut suk, translates “uncle seven”. hearing of instability of chinatown criminal infrastructure caused directly result of btk’s recent activities, benny ong demanded kong su, underworld slang negotiation david thai, in order discuss matter. presumably, had meeting taken place, benny ong have offered david ability hold onto rackets , control of canal street in exchange of giving reigns on gang brothers. though many in chinese community felt david should’ve felt honored attend meeting uncle seven, david did not respond ong’s request meeting or negotiation. in retaliation, thai’s right-hand man @ point, vinh vu, gunned down @ street corner @ 1:00 when vinh , companion waiting taxi pick them massage parlor.

funeral of vinh vu

vinh vu’s funeral procession toke place on july 28, 1990, , lasted on span of 2 days in attended between hundred-and-twenty-five 2 hundred mourners. funeral service directed wah wing sang funeral home; owner of funeral home claimed funeral service paid men did not identify themselves. wah wing sang funeral home, 6 pallbearers carried vinh vu’s coffin accompanied crowd of born kill gang members marched down through heart of chinatown, mulberry bayard street of gang members paraded openly down mulberry , bayard street btk gang banner, later folded after quick scuffle between of policemen , gang members in middle of intersection.

after entourage made way around 7 or 8 of densest blocks in chinatown, abruptly stopped @ canal street, main commercial boulevard of chinatown, loaded vinh vu’s coffin waiting hearse, mourners piling twenty nearby limousines. entourage continued towards holland tunnel before arriving @ rosedale memorial park cemetery. @ around 2:30 pm, mourners gathered around vinh vu’s casket, adorned same gang banner marched down mulberry street during funeral procession, 2 or 3 men, dressed mourners approached crowd , opened fire, wounding 5 of mourners , causing rest attempt flee cemetery in panic, few of mourners returning fire @ gunmen. afterwards, according police, gunmen reportedly escaped scene in red car. shooting @ cemetery recorded , subject local news media , national press, focused on mourners since identities of perpetrators unknown @ time. knowledgeable law enforcement , outside observers in community felt shooting orchestrated uncle 7 in retaliation thai s refusal participate in negotiations, while thai believed actual shooting done members of ghost shadows.

extortion , murder of sen van ta

in 1991, david decided gang should rob golden star jewelry store, store owned sen van ta located @ 302 canal street, because sen van ta had been refusing pay extortion money gang , because of close proximity of store thai’s massage parlor. on january 21, 1991, several gang members arrived @ store in 2 separate carloads, forced store employees onto ground, stole money , jewelry store , beat down of employees before fleeing scene in cadillac. although cadillac shortly thereafter pursued police, arrested 4 gang members in cadillac, gang member, had not fled scene using cadillac able meet thai , deliver him of jewelry robbery.

shortly after robberies, sen van ta cooperated police , identified several of perpetrators in line up. in response, thai took series of actions in attempt prevent sen van ta testifying; first, david spoke ta in person along several of employees, in afterwards told gang members had convinced witnesses not testify. in incident, ta received anonymous letter containing broken glass , newspaper article robbery, concealed threat meant gang might blow store. finally, thai again approached ta in person 1 morning ta starting open store, thai heeded ta not open store , instead go court 4 arrested gang members not robbers. ta ignored david’s orders , opened store.

in february 1991, btk began routine of collecting money merchants alongside canal street, gang members arrived in ta’s store , demanded make payments gang. sen van ta continued refusal pay gang, , began reporting these extortion attempts police, identified 1 of thai’s lieutenants along 2 other gang members law enforcement, promptly arrested them; later released.

after ta’s repeated refusal pay extortion money gang, combined ta’s cooperation law enforcement ended arrest of several gang members, david thai decided hold meeting several ranking members of gang declared, “this store owner have taken out,” , referred ta “…the 1 called policemen.” eventually, thai’s right-hand man, lan tran volunteered carry duty of executing sen van ta, later carried out on evening of march 10, 1991. both thai , tran later convicted in court conspiring , murdering sen van ta in 1992.