Couple suspected of killing man for his gambling winnings

From City News Service:

SANTA ANA — A man and woman were in custody Friday on suspicion of robbing and killing a man who won thousands of dollars at Hawaiian Gardens Casino, while an alleged accomplice was sought, police said.
Tad Allen Carroll, 41, address unknown, and Barbara Ann Hamel, 47, of Long Beach, are accused of following Chi Ngoc Bui last Friday morning after he won several thousand dollars at the casino, Bertagna said.
They were arrested Thursday afternoon and booked on suspicion of murder, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department. They were being held in the Santa Ana jail.
Police are looking for a third person investigators believe was looking for big winners at the casino as potential robbery targets, Bertagna said.
Bui and a female companion had driven from the casino to Santa Ana, where the woman lives, about 4:30
a.m. Sept. 3, when Hamel allegedly cut them off with a 2001 gold Pontiac Grand Am in the 100 block of
South Anders Place, Bertagna said.
Bui got out of his Honda Accord and tried to run, but Carroll allegedly fought with him and took some of his winnings, Bertagna said.
As the robbers fled, they drove over Bui, killing him, Bertagna said.
His friend was unhurt.
Investigators suspect the pair’s accomplice told them about Bui’s winnings and Carroll and Hamel followed him to Santa Ana, Bertagna said.
Carroll is a suspect another follow-home robbery in June in Los Angeles County that started at the same
casino,” Bertagna said.
Investigators were led to the suspects by tips from the public and with help from casino workers, Bertagna said.
Hamel was arrested at her home in Long Beach and Carroll was arrested in front of a hotel in Anaheim. It wasn’t clear if he was staying at the hotel, but investigators consider him a transient.
“They both have a long criminal history and they were all out on parole,” Bertagna said.

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