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3.17.2008

store owners victims of repeat attacks

This is absolutely heartbreaking news out of Dallas, from last week... On March 7, eleven months after an assault at his liquor store left him in a coma, 70-year-old Huot Seng La died. Just two hours after his death, at the same liquor store in South Dallas, his wife Suon Xieu was shot during a robbery. Thankfully, she survived.

"Wife shot hours after husband dies from previous attack.

Who the hell shoots a 70-year-old woman? Cowards.

Unfortunately, this was only the latest in a series of violent incidents at this store.


In July 2006, Mr. Seng shot and killed a man during a robbery. Back in September, Ms. Xieu was beaten with a pistol during a robbery. And last April, someone hit Mr. Seng on the back of the head, putting him in the coma. No arrests have been in that case, which has now become a homicide investigation.

It's just tragic and ridiculous. I've always had a bit of a sore spot when it comes threats, assaults and general injustices towards Asian immigrant small business owners. When I hear about stuff like this, which happens far too often, I get angry.