Autopsy: Victim shot nine times

A man shot and killed in a gang-related homicide on the Sonoma Coast is the brother of a star witness in an ongoing prosecution involving gang-related assault and kidnapping.

Sonoma County sheriff’s officials Monday identified the victim as Vutha Au, 24, of Santa Rosa.

An autopsy Monday found that Au was shot nine times, in the head, neck and torso, from various angles, a coroner’s spokesman said. Wounds to the head and torso were considered fatal.

The four men arrested in connection with the shooting are members of a criminal street gang, the Asian Boyz, according to Lt. Rob Giordano. Giordano said it isn’t clear if Au was also a member of the gang, but he was known to associate with the four who killed him.

The four suspects are Preston Khaoone, 22, brothers David Prak, 19 and Sarith Prak, 21 and Quentin Russell, 24. All four are from Santa Rosa.

Au was found dead in a beach parking lot, near Jenner, by a park ranger at about 1 a.m. Sunday. The ranger also saw a car speeding from the scene and called deputies with a description, leading to the arrests.

A motive for the killing remains under investigation. But Giordano said Monday afternoon that detectives are looking at court proceedings in November involving Au’s younger brother.

Terry Au, 22, testified against two brothers of Preston Khaoone and a third man, all members of the Asian Boyz criminal street gang.

The case hasn’t gone to trial. But his testimony that the men kidnapped and assaulted him over drugs and money convinced a judge to hold the trio over for trial.

It’s possible Terry Au’s testimony, expected to be given again this spring in the trial, could be connected to his brother’s slaying.

“We’re working on that link now,” Giordano said.

Terry Au also testified that because of his testimony, he and some members of his family were given protection and financial aid in a witness program.

It remained unclear Monday afternoon whether Vuthu Au was included in the protection program.

Vutha Au in the fall was working as a driver for a soda distributorship in Sonoma County.

Giordano declined to comment on circumstances of how the four picked up Au and took him out to the coast.

A handgun believed to have killed Au was found Monday in the brush along Highway 116. It was presumably thrown from the suspects’ car as they fled from the shooting, Giordano said.

The gun was found by Monte Rio Fire Chief Steve Baxman, helping deputies Monday in the search.

At about noon, he spotted it in brush about 15 feet off the side of the highway. It was located about midway between Duncans Mills and Monte Rio.

An autopsy was done on Au Monday and results were expected to be released later today.

Initial reports indicated 17 shell casings were found by the body. Giordano would only say that Au was apparently shot several times.

Detectives still are looking for a 2006 silver Honda Accord, believed to belong to Vuthu Au. The license plate is 5UJU394.

State park rangers reopened Goat Rock beach Sunday afternoon, as detectives worked in a roped off parking lot leading to nearby Blind Beach.

Detectives worked until about 2 a.m. Monday, before returning to work later in the morning, officials said.

Detectives were grateful for the timing of the state park ranger who happened upon the homicide.

“That timing was everything. It helped us put the case together,” Giordano said.

Without the ranger’s description of the car, the case would have been far more difficult to solve, he said.

The ranger was on his way to a call of a possible beach party when he saw the car speeding out of the area. Moments later he found the body.

State parks officials aren’t releasing the ranger’s name, but praised his calm, professional response to the crime.

Deputies, armed with a car description, stopped the suspect car near Duncans Mills, within minutes of the ranger’s report.

The four suspects remained in custody Monday and were expected to appear in court Tuesday.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com.