Rejected Suitor Reportedly Kills Woman and Then Himself

A sheet metal worker despondent over the rejection of his marriage proposal, fatally shot a woman and wounded her sister before turning the gun on himself in a Mira Mesa apartment, police said Friday.

The county medical examiner’s office identified the dead woman as My Thuc To, 22, of West Germany. The dead man was identified as Luan Duc Tang, a 25-year-old San Diegan who had been employed at Burner Sheet Metal in Santee.

Nga Thuc To, My’s sister, was listed in serious condition at Sharp Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said. She had been shot once in the head.

The apparent murder-suicide occurred about 9:54 p.m. Thursday at Nga’s apartment in the 10000 block of Black Mountain Road, said Lt. Dan Berglund of the San Diego police homicide unit.

Luan went to the apartment in search of My, whom he had met several months ago in West Germany and who was visiting her sister in Mira Mesa, Berglund said.

Berglund said Luan had asked My to marry him on Thursday morning, but she refused. Luan returned to the apartment Thursday night, depressed and with his arms cut and bloody, Berglund said.

My was bandaging Luan’s arms when Tang pulled out a handgun and began shooting, Berglund said. Luan shot My, then Nga, before shooting himself in the head, Berglund said.

Police responding to reports of shots fired at the apartment found My and Luan dead in the bathroom, Berglund said. Nga was found lying on a bed in an adjoining bedroom, he said.