David Mapu, 21, defended a friend during a dispute over an iPod outside a home in the Meadows neighborhood Thursday night, and wound up dead from a single gunshot wound in the back, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.
On Friday night, detectives were still searching for the suspected gunman, John C. Vu, 41, who also goes by the name “Twaine,” according to the sheriff’s office. Thurston County sheriff’s Lt. Chris Mealy said Vu is known to be a gang member, and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Vu might be in the company of Jennifer K. Contrades, 37, who is wanted in Santa Ana, Calif., on a warrant for a drug charge. She is not a suspect in Mapu’s homicide, but she had been living at the same address as Vu, and detectives have not been able to locate her, according to the sheriff’s office.
Detectives on Friday charged Vu with second-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
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Vu already had an outstanding warrant for his arrest at the time of Thursday’s homicide – a felony parole violation out of California.
Vu has an extensive criminal history, dating back to the early 1980s in California. He has convictions for illegal drugs, dangerous weapons and burglary.
Sheriff’s deputies found Mapu lying in the street in the 700 block of Lucerne Lane Southeast about 6:40 p.m. Thursday night after they responded to numerous reports of gunshots being fired. Emergency personnel removed Mapu from the scene, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Later Thursday night, detectives found the vehicle at Vu’s home that was reported seen leaving the residence, according to the sheriff’s office. The vehicle was being processed for evidence Friday.
At the time of Mapu’s death Thursday night, there also was a warrant out for his arrest. Lacey police obtained an arrest warrant for Mapu in September on suspicion of two counts of first-degree robbery, court papers state.
Anyone with information on the homicide should call the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office at 360-786-5279 or Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222.
Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5465
jpawloski@theolympian.com
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