Pursuit Suspect Charged with Murder After Crash Kills Vietnamese Tourist in Orange County. An Orange County pursuit suspect who is accused of killing an innocent tourist during Monday’s high-speed chase might potentially receive a life sentence.
One count of murder, one count of evading a peace officer causing death, two felony counts of evading a peace officer causing serious injury, one felony count of arson of an inhabited structure, and one felony enhancement of arson with use of an acceleration device were all brought against Timothy Bradford Cole II, 43, by the OC District Attorney’s Office.
Cole, a “documented white supremacist gang member with six prior strikes,” according to the District Attorney’s Office, could be sentenced to a maximum of 70 years to life in prison plus 48 years and eight months in state prison if found guilty as charged.
Hong Ngoc Nguyen, a 25-year-old Vietnamese tourist, was recognized by authorities as the woman Cole allegedly killed. According to the Fountain Valley Police Department, she was seeing acquaintances from her early years when she passed away.
Todd Spitzer, the district attorney for Orange County, stated that “no one could have predicted that a series of events set in motion by a complete stranger would turn Miss Nguyen’s American vacation into an American nightmare.”
After Cole allegedly lit a bush outside his sister’s fiance’s house on fire, he fled from the authorities. Before being extinguished by a neighbor and another person, the fire extended to the porch and partially charred it.
Cole was seen by Fountain Valley police returning to his vehicle close to the scene of the alleged arson. Cole resisted the officers’ attempts to stop him and drove away at about 90 mph. Cole allegedly ran a red light at Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street during the 1.4-mile pursuit before colliding with Nguyen’s BMW X3. She passed away while riding in the backseat. The driver, a friend of hers, sustained pelvic and spinal fractures. An arm was shattered by another traveler.
“Words do not exist to express the utter heartbreak over the death of a young woman who found herself in the path of someone with complete disregard for human life and we will do everything we can to get justice for Miss Nguyen and her loved ones,” Spitzer stated.
Cole’s criminal history dates back to 2003, according to court documents. He entered guilty pleas to several misdemeanors and one felony charge of possession of a controlled drug this year.
In 2005, he entered a guilty plea to charges of assault with a deadly weapon, enhanced by the threat of serious bodily harm, and criminal threats in 2007. In the same year, he entered a new plea to two counts of soliciting to commit a crime and dissuading a witness by force, both of which were enhanced for involvement in criminal street gang activity.
Cole entered a guilty plea once more in 2007 to two charges of involvement in criminal street gang activities, one count of solicitation to conduct a crime, and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime. Additionally, he acknowledged two increases in illegal street gang activity.
He was given a 135-day jail sentence in 2023 for violating his parole. Following his release, prosecutors filed a misdemeanor complaint against him, which was later dropped on September 5, 2024.
