Suspect in Calgary, Edmonton gang killings out on bail

The suspect in two alleged gang hits that saw three people slain in Calgary and Edmonton was ordered released on bail Thursday.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice David Labrenz granted an application by Jimmy Truong ’s lawyer, Derek Jugnauth, to release the accused pending trial.

Because Truong faces two minor charges under which release has not been dealt with, Jugnauth said his client will remain detained until those can be addressed in provincial court next week.

Among the conditions of Truong ’s bail are that he wear a GPS ankle monitoring bracelet and have no contact with 11 named individuals.

He’s also subject to 24-hour house arrest with exceptions for work, training or medical appointments and emergencies, cannot possess a cellphone and must have three family members post sureties on properties totalling $300,000.

At Jugnauth’s request, Labrenz earlier imposed a publication ban on the bail hearing when it began last month, which includes his reasons for not detaining Truong, as had been sought by Crown prosecutor Adam May.

Truong, 27, was arrested in Calgary in April and charged with what police said were gangrelated killings in Alberta’s two major cities.

At the time, police said the three killings were part of an orchestrated plot and were organized gang hits.

“When we are speaking to organized crime, this was not orchestrated by one person — it is a number of individuals,” acting Staff Sgt. Kurt Jacobs with the homicide unit said following Truong ’s April 19 arrest.

“It was well thought out and it was done in concert with others for a criminal purpose.”

The killing spree began about 8 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2016, when Cuc Lung, 34, and Quang Tran, 38, returned to their residence on Redstone Manor N.E., where they were gunned down while sitting in their vehicle.

Lung ’s five-year-old son was in the back seat but uninjured.

Tran died at the scene and Lung was taken to hospital, where she died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Then, at 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 7, 2016, emergency crews responded to reports of a shooting in the area of 171st Avenue and 126th Street in the Edmonton community of Rapperswill.

They found Phu Phan, 30, dead in the driveway of his residence as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.

At the time, police did not disclose whether Truong was believed to be the gunman or suspected of playing another role in the crimes.

They also would not say if the killings were related to the FOBFK gang war that plagued Calgary’s streets between 2002 and 2009.

No one other than Truong has been charged in the three homicides.

Truong is scheduled to face a preliminary inquiry next August.

Whenwe are speaking to organized crime, this was not orchestrated by one person — it is a number of individuals.