Carpet Shop Owner Shot in Knees and Robbed

GARDEN GROVE —  A carpet shop owner was shot in both knee caps by robbers who stormed his shop, tied him up and robbed him.

Nhu Nguyen remained in stable condition Thursday at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, hospital officials said.

“He had somehow crawled outside” after the shooting, said Hoa Bui, owner of Vien Dong restaurant, which is next door to Nguyen’s N T Carpet shop, at 10526 McFadden Ave. “He said weakly: ‘I was robbed. They came into my store, told me to lie face down on the floor. Then, they shot me and took my money.”

Bui ran to call 911, she said.

Police said Nguyen was alone when two men entered his business at about 1:40 p.m.

“They engaged the owner in a brief conversation about doing business,” Garden Grove Police Lt. Chuck Gibbs said.

The men left but returned a few minutes later, this time carrying handguns, Gibbs said.

They forced the victim into his office in the back and bound him with masking tape, Gibbs said. They stole Nguyen’s gold bracelet and his wallet which contained two cashier’s checks, totaling $70,000, the lieutenant said.