On February 27th, the Irvine Police Department with assistance from the Orange County Regional Gang Enforcement Team, R.G.E.T., culminated a five-year murder investigation with the arrest of Ronald Tran, a 25-year-old Vietnamese male and Noel Plata, a 25-year-old Hispanic male.

In November of l995, a l9-year-old Irvine Valley College student, Linda Park, was brutally murdered during a home invasion robbery at her home in the Irvine community of Deerfield. Early in the investigation, police focused on both Tran and Plata who were known members of a notorious criminal street gang. This investigation revealed extensive criminal activity by both suspects and each was questioned by the Irvine investigators on several occasions. The investigation continued for three-and-a half years but there was insufficient evidence for a criminal complaint to be filed.

With the Irvine Police Department and RGET working as a joint investigative team, enough facts were finally developed to file murder charges against Tran and Plata.

At the time of his arrest, Plata was serving a 28-years-to-life sentence for a homicide he committed in l996 in the city of Garden Grove. He was transferred to Orange County from the California Department of Corrections Tehachapi Prison.

Tran was arrested at l0 p.m. on February 27th while driving his vehicle in the city of Fountain Valley where he was residing.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has filed the following charges against Tran and Plata. They are charged with murder during a residential burglary, murder during a residential robbery, multiple murder (alleged vs. Plata) and active participation in a criminal street gang.

It is alleged that the crimes were done in association with a criminal street gang. Both defendants are eligible for the death penalty. A decision whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.