A Denver jury convicted Phuong Van Dang on Tuesday of trying to rob a Vietnamese restaurant where two Denver police officers happened to be having lunch.
The jurors deliberated for four hours before finding 27-year-old Dang guilty of two counts of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of attempted second-degree assault, 13 counts of menacing, 11 counts of attempted aggravated robbery, attempted theft of more than $20,000, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct with a weapon.
Dang went into the Pho Ha Noi restaurant on South Federal Boulevard on Nov. 14, 2007 with a loaded shotgun.
He was shot five times by Denver police officers who were having lunch at the time. Sgt. John Pinder and Detective Jesse Avendano received medals of honor for their actions that day.
A family of three suffered gunshot wounds but survived.
Dang continues to face charges as a habitual criminal because he has prior convictions on his record. He could face 200 years in prison.
Felisa Cardona, The Denver Post
