2010-11-10

Amarillo man gets 40 years for murder

An Amarillo man will spend at least 40 years in prison after pleading guilty last week to a murder charge
that resulted from a 2008 incident, said 47th District Attorney Randall Sims.

Emmanuel Molina, 20, pleaded guilty Friday in the 320th District Court to murder in the May 17, 2008, shooting death of Loc Dang, 53.

Judge Don Emerson sentenced Molina to life in prison on the murder charge, Sims said.

Emerson also sentenced Molina to 20 years in prison on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault of a public servant. Molina will not be eligible for parole for at least 40 years, Sims said.
Dang was shot several times in the upper body while chasing Molina and Phoung Vein Pham away from a home in the 1700 block of Jennifer Street.

Sang Dang, Loc's brother, also gave chase and was shot in the leg. Police said Molina shot both men. After his arrest, Molina assaulted a jailer in the Potter County Corrections Center, Sims said.

Pham pleaded guilty May 1, 2009, to two counts of aggravated assault resulting from the incident and one
count of aggravated robbery, stemming from another incident in which he robbed a business owner when she arrived home on Feb. 29, 2008: Pham must serve 30 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.