Life Sentence for Stranger Murder by Wannabe Gang Member

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA — The man who killed a stranger in Stanton was sentenced on Friday to 26 years to life in prison in what prosecutors said was "an attempt to elevate his status in a gang."

Daniel Perez Munoz, a 23-year-old Garden Grove resident, was convicted of first-degree murder in the Jan. 11, 2014, stabbing death of 52-year-old Phuong "Bob" Huynh.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Patrick Donahue alluded to the senselessness of the killing when he handed down the defendant's punishment.
"Not sure why this incident had to happen," Donahue said. "I really don't, but it changed a lot of lives."

After the hearing, the defendant's mother and sister tearfully told the victim's son, James Tran, how sorry they were about what happened.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mike Murray read a victim impact statement in court on behalf of Tran, who recounted the night his father was killed. He said his mother kept repeating, "They killed ba, ba is dead," referring to the Vietnamese word for father, and he did not know how to reply.

"What was I supposed to say, I was in disbelief myself," Tran wrote. "But nothing compared to the pain my mom felt that night. I've never seen her in such a bad state, sobbing uncontrollably."

Tran said his little sister "approached me that night and asked me, 'What are we going to do now? Are we going to be homeless?"'

Huynh, a long-haul trucker, was the family's "sole provider," his son said.
"No one should have to worry about that, especially my little sister since she was the youngest, but I would be lying if I wasn't thinking the same thing that night," he said.

Huynh was not married to Tran's mother, but they had been together for 17 years, Murray said.

The victim "was killed for no other reason other than this defendant wanted to show he was a bad-ass gang member -- that's it," the prosecutor told the jury. "He wanted respect. He wanted street cred."

Huynh had gone to a Walmart store to buy beer and then to a liquor store, perhaps to buy lottery tickets, when he was confronted by the defendant, the prosecutor said.

Munoz was hanging around with friends at "The Wall," an area at the West Creek Apartments where the group would smoke marijuana and drink alcohol, Murray said. Munoz, who was drinking from a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, showed up about 6 p.m. and shortly after that spotted the victim, Murray said.

"He does something in gang parlance that's called a 'hit-up,"' Murray said. "It's a challenge. They say, 'Where you from?' That's what he does to Bob. He hits him up and he immediately stabs him."

Huynh was stabbed in the throat and chest and quickly bled to death, Murray said.

A witness -- David Benitez -- ran to the defendant and punched him for "assaulting this man in front of their children," Murray said.

Munoz dashed back to his friends, complaining about Benitez and vowing "to get revenge," Murray said. "That's what was on his mind after murdering the victim."
Munoz also called a friend after the killing, saying he wanted to "tune up" Benitez, Murray said. The defendant was also angry with another friend for failing to "back him up" after Benitez punched him, the prosecutor said.

Ultimately, Munoz claimed to investigators that he was drunk and went along with a transient's idea to mug the victim, but insisted he did not stab Huynh, Murray said.

Munoz's attorney, Kelly Rozek, told jurors her client killed Huynh "because he believed his life was in danger."

Munoz was the target of a "gang hit-up" just before he met with his friends and Huynh was attacked, according to Rozek, who said her client walked away from the confrontation.

Munoz, who appeared drunk to his friends that night and whose vision is impaired, saw someone who looked like the gang member he encountered earlier and thought he was "mad dogging" him, Rozek said, referring to gang parlance for a dirty look.

The defendant "thinks Bob Huynh is reaching for something," Rozek said. "He thinks he's a gang member."

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