On June 30, 2004 around 7:45 p.m., Asian street gang member Chava Seechan of Visalia, who was seventeen years old at the time, approached an ice cream truck driver in northern Visalia and asked for four ice creams. The ice cream truck driver handed Seechan the ice creams, which totaled $4.00, and then requested payment. Seechan refused to pay and became angry. Seechan then punched the ice cream truck driver in the face, causing the ice cream truck driver to speed away in fear for his safety. Seechan initially ran after the ice cream truck and then stopped.

About fifteen minutes later and still during daylight, the ice cream truck driver stopped at the nearby intersection of Houston and Santa Fe Avenues, having several vehicles to his front. The ice cream truck driver saw Seechan approaching his vehicle from the front. Seechan tied a blue bandanna around his face, which represented the color of Seechan’s gang. Seechan then pulled out a 380 semiautomatic handgun, walked up to the driver’s side door, and starting shooting at the ice cream truck driver, who ducked down and sped away. None of the bullets hit the ice cream truck driver. Three of the bullets hit the driver’s side door but did not penetrate the inside paneling. One of the bullets hit the driver’s side windshield.

Around 11:15 p.m., Seechan and three other Asian gang members went to Valley Gas and Food in northern Visalia. Seechan went inside the store, grabbed a twenty pack of beer, and left without paying. The store clerk and the security guard confronted Seechan outside. Seechan again pulled out his 380 handgun. The store clerk ran inside the store. Seechan then pointed the handgun at the security guard and told him to back away. The security guard complied. Seechan then fired two shots in the direction of the security guard and left with the stolen beer.

Though none of the victims knew Seechan beforehand, they were able to identify Seechan by viewing a series of photographs. On July 2, 2004, Visalia Police Department located and arrested Seechan outside his residence in northern Visalia. Seechan was charged and tried as an adult. The jury trial began on September 18, 2006 and ended on September 27, 2006. The jury convicted Seechan on all counts and all special allegations, which included attempted murder, assaults with a firearm, robberies, and the criminal street gang allegations. On November 22, 2006, Judge Gary Paden sentenced Chava Seechan to 80 years to life in state prison.

Detective Randy Lentzner was the investigating officer, Officer Luma Fahoum was the gang expert, and Deputy District Attorney Todd Zocchi was the prosecutor.

Contact person: Assistant District Attorney, Don Gallian 733-6411.