A 48-year-old Chino Hills man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of attempted murder Tuesday, hours after his wife was found shot at their home and he allegedly tried to flee the country with his passports, an airline ticket and a large amount of cash in hand.
Tao Shen was taken into custody at LAX after deputies and detectives tracked him there from Chino Hills, according to KTLA. The outlet reports that Chino Valley Fire District personnel requested a deputy response to a home in the 1800 block of Foxgate Lane on Tuesday, where deputies found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. She received emergency medical treatment at the scene before being taken to a local hospital; authorities have not disclosed her current condition.
Investigators allege Shen shot his wife before fleeing the home in a vehicle, taking his passports and other legal documents with him, per the same KTLA report. Working with surrounding agencies, investigators determined that Shen was allegedly attempting to leave the country, which led deputies and detectives to track him to LAX.
Caught With Passports, Ticket and Cash in Hand
When deputies caught up with Shen at the airport, he reportedly had his passports, an airline ticket and a large amount of cash on him. Officials have not disclosed the ticket's destination or the scheduled flight's departure time, the station notes.
Shen was arrested at LAX on suspicion of attempted murder. Authorities have withheld the identity of Shen's wife, who is the alleged victim in the case.
Why Sheriff's Deputies, Not City Police, Responded
Sheriff's Deputies Respond to Shooting Chino Valley Fire District personnel requested a deputy response to the home, where deputies found the woman suffering from gunshot wounds.
West Valley Detention Center uses a remote video arraignment network that connects pre-trial detainees directly to San Bernardino County Superior Courts in Chino, Rancho Cucamonga and San Bernardino, so Shen would not necessarily need to be physically transported to a courtroom for that initial appearance.
What an Attempted Murder Conviction Could Mean
If convicted, Shen could face a lengthy prison sentence. Under California Penal Code Sections 664 and 187, attempted first-degree murder carries life imprisonment with the possibility of parole, while attempted second-degree murder carries a fixed term of 5, 7 or 9 years, according to attorneys at Eisner Gorin LLP. To secure a conviction, prosecutors must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt; the required elements include a specific intent to kill and a direct, unambiguous step toward completing the killing, beyond mere planning, as described by Power Trial Lawyers.
The Chino Hills Police Department is asking anyone with information about the Foxgate Lane shooting to come forward, and tips can be submitted to the department at 909-364-2000 or anonymously through WeTip by calling or texting 844-909-3006.
