Man receives 44 months for 2021 Renton vehicular homicide

The victim took a firearm from a man at the Uwajimya parking lot before they fled, were chased and ultimately crashed.

A Renton man received a nearly four year sentence following a 2021 vehicular homicide where the victim, a passenger, stole a gun from another, and the defendant drove away at a high rate of speed, subsequently crashing.

On Jan. 17, 2024, Luyen Truong, 28, was sentenced to 44 months in the state Department of Corrections for a vehicular homicide where Nyran Tran-Ly, 19, died as a result of a crash that occurred after a high-speed chase, according to court documents. Court documents state that Tran-Ly, the victim, told another man in the Renton Uwajimaya parking lot that he was going to buy a firearm, so he wanted to see his, and after he was handed the firearm, he entered the vehicle Truong was driving, which fled. Shortly after fleeing, Truong then got into a 96-mile-per-hour crash in the 2800 block of Benson Drive S., causing the death of Tran-Ly.

The documents state that before the crash, the man whose gun was taken was chasing Truong’s vehicle — which was owned by another passenger — and their vehicles made contact, which is what caused Truong to spin out into oncoming traffic. After spinning out, Truong slammed into a car, causing a fireball that was quickly extinguished and then he collided into a Safeway box truck.

The driver of the vehicle sustained a fractured pelvis, a collapsed lung, rib fractures, arm fractures, knee fractures and spleen damage, and the driver of the Safeway box truck received substantial bodily harm. Additionally, documents state that the Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Tran-Ly’s cause of death was caused by multiple blunt force injuries.

Officers then searched the defendant’s car and uncovered 70 grams of marijuana, a bag with a white chunky rock-like substance, a loaded 9mm Springfield Armory firearm and an unmarked handgun without a magazine believed to be the one taken in the parking lot, according to court documents.

State and defense statements

At the sentencing hearing, King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Samantha Murray recommended a 48-month sentence, citing that given the nature of the avoidable collision, the sentence is fair and necessary. Murray then shared a statement from the victim of the first collision in the incident, who said that she had not received an apology from anyone involved.

“I don’t feel the defendant is remorseful for anything that he did. It’s hard for me to encourage a judge to give a longer sentence here, especially when I feel like the defendant is carrying a whole load, and it wasn’t just him that committed these crimes,” the victim’s statement said. “There were four other people involved, and although one of them is dead, it does bother me that the defendant does not seem remorseful at all.”

Truong’s attorney Tim Leary said that he understood the victim’s reaction but since she is not involved in the criminal justice system and might not necessarily know how it works, she does not appreciate the fact that the defendant was ordered not to have any contact with her, so he could not offer an apology. Leary said, however, he understands her frustration, being that the case took many years to complete which he did not attribute to Truong but to his scheduling, preparing and the management of his caseload.

Leary asked that the state give Truong a first-time offender waiver, bringing the sentence down to 90 days. He then said that Truong did not want the 90-day sentence and instead asked for a 12-month sentence because he didn’t feel the 90-day sentence was appropriate.

“My client came forward, took responsibility just as he took responsibility in October when he pled guilty and why he’s here asking to be taken into custody for 12 months,” Leary said. “He was friends with Nyran. He’s had contact throughout his life with his family, he knows his family, he know them well. They’re not here, and there’s no letter from them recommending he be sent to prison.”

Murray, referring to the victim’s statement, said the lack of apology was not the basis of her anger. She cited the injury she received, stating that she still deals with the injuries.

Judge Flevaris said situations like this are tragic and cannot be undone. He said the court is tasked with imposing sentences that fulfill a variety of purposes, including public accountability, exercising some discretion within a structure, proportional punishment to the criminal history, reaching a just punishment, promoting commensurate punishments, protecting the public, offering opportunities for the defendant to better themselves, efficient use of government resources and reducing risk of reoffense in the community.

“There wasn’t only death, but other serious injuries and damage. It’s a very significant, harmful event. Again, the circumstances leading up to it, the concerns raised by those circumstances, the rate of speed at issue here,” Flevaris said. “On the other hand, the court is also considering the involvement of the decedent, the serious injuries, of course to another victim, of course, taking that into account, but also considering the charge that applies to that victim.”