Stepfather charged in deadly attack on family in Garden Grove

A Garden Grove man accused of attacking his family and stabbing a young girl to death has been charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder.

Tanh Thien Tran, 73, will appear in court on Friday, Aug. 31, two days after allegedly shooting his wife and stabbing his 10-year-old stepdaughter, Orange County District Attorney’s spokeswoman Emily Sudduth said. Initial reports identified the girl as 11 years old, however, on Thursday authorities verified she was 10.

Tran also cut himself before Garden Grove police used bean bags and foam projectiles to subdue him and take him into custody.

Neighbors on Wednesday, Aug. 29, watched the violent scene unfold less than a mile from Hare High School. Nearby residents saw a woman identified as the suspect’s wife exit the home in blood-splattered clothing, speechless and apparently in shock.

As officers treated her injuries, she told them that her children were still inside the duplex in the 8900 block of Blossom Avenue, according to Garden Grove police Lt. Carl Whitney.

Police found Tran holding a knife and standing just a few feet away from his wounded stepdaughter, Whitney said. He said authorities negotiated with the suspect as a group of officers came behind him to retrieve the girl. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead at 8 a.m.

Two other children who were in the home during the incident, a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old, were unharmed. Their mother was being treated for a gunshot and stab wounds and was listed in critical condition Thursday evening, Aug. 30, according to Whitney. He added that she is expected to survive and is communicating with detectives.

The suspect was also recovering at a hospital on Thursday night. Once discharged, he will be placed into the custody of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and held without bail at the County Jail, Whitney said.

Police have not said what might have led to the attack, except that it may have been “domestic violence related.”