A 55-year-old Vietnamese-Chinese man, Thomas Thong, was shot to death last Sunday, Aug. 23, at his home in Beacon Hill. Police say Thong’s 29-year-old son, Tai Duc Thong, told authorities that he did the shooting while he was high on drugs. The son is being held at the King County Jail in lieu of $1 million.
According to a police statement, a caller to 911 said he had shot his father. When officers arrived, the son and his wife came out of the southeast Seattle house. The father was taken to Harborview Medical Center to be treated for multiple gunshot wounds. He later died, according to police. The slain man’s wife told police that her son was responsible, police said.
Officers say the son told them he shot his father after smoking phencyclidine, a hallucinogenic drug known as PCP.
Police say the man was taken to a hospital because he appeared to be experiencing psychotic episodes and will be jailed for investigation of homicide.
Thomas Thong was part of a well-known family in the International District. He was known as a hard working citizen, putting in 6 to 7 days a week at his laundromat in Madrona. Relatives of the family said they are devastated over what transpired.
Tai Duc Thong will be arraigned on Sept. 8. He is accused of murder in the second degree. ♦
Information from the Seattle Times and The Associated Press contributed to this report.