The wife of a man shot to death at his Dollar Value Plus store tearfully pleaded for help in finding the person who “did this thing.”
“It’s like a nightmare,” said Dao Vo, 28, the widow of Dung Le, 44, who was killed between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on June 3 at the store, located at 5765 E. 63rd Place in Commerce City.
Le’s mother, Hong Phan, sobbed and hugged a picture of her son as she entered a room today at the Commerce City Police Department for a news conference.
Le’s brother-in-law, Kevin Le, said the family wished to ask for help in finding whoever killed the trusting storekeeper. Dung Le would sometimes let people take items home with the promise of paying later.
“He was the foundation of our family. Our family is just devastated,” Kevin Le said. “Somebody out there needs to speak up.”
Detective Mike Saunders said police are searching for the occupants of a white van that was facing the store between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the day Dung Le was killed. Those in the van were in a position to see what happened, he said.
“Right now, we have pieces to the puzzle, but as we put them together, they are not matching up,” Saunders said. “We need other pieces of the puzzle to fill gaps.”
He said one woman came forward Saturday and provided useful information, apologizing because she thought her information was insignificant. But it was very helpful, Saunders said.
Police also are scanning film from video cameras that were running at the time of the robbery, Saunders said.
Police are offering a reward of $1,500 for information leading to an arrest.
Those wishing to help the family can contribute to the Dung Le Memorial Fund at any U.S. Bank branch.
Dung Le had lost his design-engineering job a few months ago, and the store was not doing well and may remain closed.
Vo said every time she goes to the store, it brings back memories.
“I don’t think I can do it,” she said of reopening the store.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
