The suspect has been identified as 21-year old Krystal Whipple. Whipple had attempted to drive off from the nail salon without paying the $35 fee for her manicure.
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The surveillance footage, released by LVMPD, reveals the rest; it features an introduction and narration by Lt. Ray Spencer of the LVPD Homicide Section. “I’m coming to you today with a plea for assistance in solving a recent case involving the death of a local woman outside a nail salon,” he says.
In the footage, Whipple can be seen speedily walking into her car and driving off. The victim, 51-year old salon owner Ngoc Q. Nguyen, ran in front of the vehicle to stop her from escaping; Whipple then sped through her, trampling her and trapping her under the car.
Pictured: Whipple exiting salon. Screenshot taken from video.
Nguyen was later brought to University Medical Center Trauma and eventually pronounced dead. Nguyen, mother of 3, is survived by her children as well as her husband Sonny Chung, who co-owned the nail salon with Nguyen. Chung told NBC 5“(Whipple) ran off for $35 and killed my wife — $35 to run my wife over.”
Lt. Spencer and the LVMPD are calling for anyone with information to contact the police in order to find Whipple and bring her to justice. “We are asking the public,” he says, “if you have knowledge of Whipple’s whereabouts or if you have any information about this case, to please contact the LVMPD Homicide Section.”
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