Family and friends gather for a prayer service at the home of 24-year-old Vannaly Tim, left photo, and 25-year-old Sarith Em, who were killed New Year's Day. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)Press-Telegram Long Beach
Police seek public's help in solving the slayings of young couple
By Paul Eakins, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/02/2009
LONG BEACH -- Police had no suspects or any new information Friday afternoon in the double murder of a young couple early New Year's Day.
Police spokeswoman Jackie Bezart said the shooting still wasn't considered gang-related and that the investigation was ongoing.
She encouraged anyone who has information about the shooting of Vannaly Tim, 24, and her boyfriend Sarith Em, 25, who was an Iraq war veteran, to call police homicide detectives at 562-570-7244.
"We are desperately seeking the public's help, anyone who heard or saw anything," Bezart said.
The couple was shot and killed early Thursday morning outside of the apartment they shared with Tim's parents, grandmother and Tim's 5-year-old son.
Family members said Tim and Em had gone outside to move their car because they weren't sure whether there would be street sweeping on New Year's Day, and they didn't want a parking ticket.
An unknown assailant opened fire on them in the street next to their car, hitting Em in the back, family members said. They said one bullet went all the way through Em and hit Tim in the chest, but Bezart said that information hadn't been confirmed by the L.A. County Coroner's Office.
Bezart said the police didn't have an official report yet on how many shots had been fired, at what range or other circumstances of the shooting.
On Thursday, a few more details about the couple emerged, and the family began fundraising efforts to pay for Tim's and Em's burials.
The family wants to bury them side-by-side at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, where Tim's other grandmother is buried, said Tim's cousin Jackie Thongdy.
Children of immigrants
While Tim and Em were born and raised in Long Beach, both graduating from Wilson High School in 2002, their families had immigrated here from Cambodia.
Tim was the daughter of Thong Tim and Voun Siprasoeuth, Laotians who had been living in Cambodia before coming to Long Beach in the early 1980s, Thongdy said.
Em's father is Seath Em, who emigrated from Cambodia in 1976, Sarith Em's older sister, Soheng Em, said in a brief conversation. She didn't mention the mother.
Like their families, the slain couple were Buddhist, and on Friday the Tim family was visited by local Buddhist monks as the group mourned.
Iraq war veteran
After graduating from high school, Sarith Em enlisted in the Army in December 2002 and began active duty as a combat engineer in March 2003, according to Lt. Col. George Wright, an Army spokesman
Tears roll down the face of Seath Em, a Cambodian immigrant, as he mourns for his Long Beach-born son Sarith. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)
Family members said Em had served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, though Wright on Friday didn't have access to records of Em's deployment history.
Soheng Em said her brother had left the Army sometime last year, while Tim's family members thought it had been earlier, but Wright said Friday that Sarith Em was still listed as on active duty.
Wright said Em may have had extra paid leave time built up that would have allowed him to exit the Army but still be paid for the remaining leave, thus being considered on active duty.
On Em's MySpace.com page, he had written a phrase that appears to indicate where he was stationed and the battalion in which he served - the 1st Brigade Support Troops Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York.
Vannaly Tim's cousin Sak Thongdy, left, and sister Debi So, share a solemn moment Thursday at the spot where Tim and boyfriend Sarith Em were shot in the 1800 block of Gardenia Avenue in Long Beach. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)
"He was always into sports, and he loved the Army," Soheng Em said of her brother.
She said he also enjoyed playing with his nieces and often would pop in unannounced for a visit.
"He's a really lovable person," Soheng Em said.
She said that after leaving the Army, her brother worked at Pelican Products, an international manufacturer of equipment cases and lights based in Torrance. Pelican was closed for business this week and no one could be reached there.
Meanwhile, Tim had worked for three years in the men's shoe department at Macy's in Lakewood Center Mall, her family said.
A co-worker contacted there was clearly upset by Tim's death and didn't want to discuss her friend. paul.eakins@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1278
Police seek public's help in solving the slayings of young couple
By Paul Eakins, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/02/2009
LONG BEACH -- Police had no suspects or any new information Friday afternoon in the double murder of a young couple early New Year's Day.
Police spokeswoman Jackie Bezart said the shooting still wasn't considered gang-related and that the investigation was ongoing.
She encouraged anyone who has information about the shooting of Vannaly Tim, 24, and her boyfriend Sarith Em, 25, who was an Iraq war veteran, to call police homicide detectives at 562-570-7244.
"We are desperately seeking the public's help, anyone who heard or saw anything," Bezart said.
The couple was shot and killed early Thursday morning outside of the apartment they shared with Tim's parents, grandmother and Tim's 5-year-old son.
Family members said Tim and Em had gone outside to move their car because they weren't sure whether there would be street sweeping on New Year's Day, and they didn't want a parking ticket.
An unknown assailant opened fire on them in the street next to their car, hitting Em in the back, family members said. They said one bullet went all the way through Em and hit Tim in the chest, but Bezart said that information hadn't been confirmed by the L.A. County Coroner's Office.
Bezart said the police didn't have an official report yet on how many shots had been fired, at what range or other circumstances of the shooting.
On Thursday, a few more details about the couple emerged, and the family began fundraising efforts to pay for Tim's and Em's burials.
The family wants to bury them side-by-side at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, where Tim's other grandmother is buried, said Tim's cousin Jackie Thongdy.
Children of immigrants
While Tim and Em were born and raised in Long Beach, both graduating from Wilson High School in 2002, their families had immigrated here from Cambodia.
Tim was the daughter of Thong Tim and Voun Siprasoeuth, Laotians who had been living in Cambodia before coming to Long Beach in the early 1980s, Thongdy said.
Em's father is Seath Em, who emigrated from Cambodia in 1976, Sarith Em's older sister, Soheng Em, said in a brief conversation. She didn't mention the mother.
Like their families, the slain couple were Buddhist, and on Friday the Tim family was visited by local Buddhist monks as the group mourned.
Iraq war veteran
After graduating from high school, Sarith Em enlisted in the Army in December 2002 and began active duty as a combat engineer in March 2003, according to Lt. Col. George Wright, an Army spokesman
Tears roll down the face of Seath Em, a Cambodian immigrant, as he mourns for his Long Beach-born son Sarith. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)
Family members said Em had served three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, though Wright on Friday didn't have access to records of Em's deployment history.
Soheng Em said her brother had left the Army sometime last year, while Tim's family members thought it had been earlier, but Wright said Friday that Sarith Em was still listed as on active duty.
Wright said Em may have had extra paid leave time built up that would have allowed him to exit the Army but still be paid for the remaining leave, thus being considered on active duty.
On Em's MySpace.com page, he had written a phrase that appears to indicate where he was stationed and the battalion in which he served - the 1st Brigade Support Troops Battalion of the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York.
Vannaly Tim's cousin Sak Thongdy, left, and sister Debi So, share a solemn moment Thursday at the spot where Tim and boyfriend Sarith Em were shot in the 1800 block of Gardenia Avenue in Long Beach. (Steven Georges / Staff Photographer)
"He was always into sports, and he loved the Army," Soheng Em said of her brother.
She said he also enjoyed playing with his nieces and often would pop in unannounced for a visit.
"He's a really lovable person," Soheng Em said.
She said that after leaving the Army, her brother worked at Pelican Products, an international manufacturer of equipment cases and lights based in Torrance. Pelican was closed for business this week and no one could be reached there.
Meanwhile, Tim had worked for three years in the men's shoe department at Macy's in Lakewood Center Mall, her family said.
A co-worker contacted there was clearly upset by Tim's death and didn't want to discuss her friend. paul.eakins@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1278
How you can help
To report information about the shooting of Vannaly Tim and Sarith Em, call Long Beach police at: 562-570-7244
To donate money to the Tim family for funeral costs, call 562-728-7113 or 626-890-0742
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