WASHINGTON — A 77-year-old was murdered in a Fairfax County retirement community, and police are searching for a suspect.
Cong Huu Nguyen, 77, was found dead in his apartment in the Little River Glen Senior Retirement Community, located at 4003 Barker Court in Fairfax Thursday morning. Nguyen had trauma to his upper body.
On Friday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the trauma to his upper body caused his death, which was ruled a homicide.
It is not yet clear if someone forced entry into Nguyen’s apartment, said Fairfax County police spokesman Don Gotthardt.
Police also do not know if this was a random act or not.
“We have to classify it or characterize as a threat to public safety at this point because we don’t know any different,” Gotthardt said.
Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying anyone responsible. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 703-246-7800 or 703-246-7810.
Little River Glen Senior Retirement Community has 120 one-bedroom apartments in four residential buildings, according to information on the Fairfax County website.
The facility is operated by the county. Ashley Montgomery, director of public affairs for Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development, said the community is in the process of notifying residents about what took place.
Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority Chairman Robert Schwaninger said the agency is working to make sure residents of the senior community are safe and their families are informed about updates in the case, too.
“Our hearts go out to Mr. Nguyen’s family for their loss, and they will be in our thoughts. Little River Glen is a wonderful, safe and welcoming community where our residents can age with dignity in a home they can afford. We have an outstanding police department, and we have every confidence in their ability to make an arrest in this case,” Schwaninger said in the statement.
Editor’s note: Fairfax County police corrected that Nguyen was 77 when he died.
WTOP’s Mike Murillo contributed to this report.
