S.F. man charged with attempted murder in firing at mail carrier

A San Francisco man was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with attempted murder and assault after firing a gun at a mail carrier last month.

Using a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, Vo Nguyen allegedly fired several shots at a United States Postal Service employee who was attempting to deliver a package at his address on Sparta Street in Visitation Valley on April 1, according to Ismail Ramsey, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California.f

As the carrier was trying to give mail to a woman outside Nguyen's residence, he reportedly came out of the house, aggressively approaching the mail carrier and yelling at him, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.

The postal employee escaped down the street but later pepper-sprayed Nguyen, after he allegedly chased and caught up to the USPS worker.

Prosecutors said Nguyen then allegedly returned to his home, got into a Toyota Land Cruiser and drove back to the mail carrier on a nearby street. Nguyen shot at him seven to eight times, and fired five additional shots as the carrier fled.

But as the USPS employee took cover behind a parked SUV in a driveway, Nguyen made a U-turn, drove back up the street, and allegedly fired three final shots at the federal worker — ultimately running out of ammunition. Nguyen later attempted to fight the USPS employee, but was pepper sprayed a second time. San Francisco Police Department officers arrived shortly after and arrested him.

Nguyen was charged with assault on a federal employee with a deadly or dangerous weapon, attempted murder of a federal employee and using a firearm in a crime of violence. If found guilty, Vo faces up to 20 years in prison on the assault and attempted murder charges. The firearm charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison.

He appeared in federal court Friday, and is scheduled to reappear June 15.