Per wtim he notes the owner will not be charged for the stabbing. If someone has a direct link to support this position and outcome would love to read it.
Initial reports were that the owner would
not be charged, but of course that could change. Many District Attorneys will bend to public outrage or political pressure and reverse themselves. However, I think that Mr. Nguyen has several things in his favor right now:
(1) He is Asian, and the perps are white. The media has been beating the "Stop Asian Hate" drum for a couple of years; an obvious conclusion that Mr. Nguyen could make is that he was being deliberately targeted because of his race, and that his assailants planned to do more than just rob him.
(2) Mr. Nguyen tried to de-escalate the situation, and was prepared to let them leave with the tip jar. He did not fight back until one of them jumped the counter. Where I live, if you spot someone grabbing a package on your porch and then shoot them in your front yard, you're going to be arrested. But if that same thief opens your door and comes in your house, deadly force is completely justified. By jumping over that counter, the thief crossed the line. How was Mr. Nguyen supposed to know that he would not be attacked next?
(3) Mr. Nguyen was amazingly calm and self-controlled despite what happened. He did not use any more force than was necessary once he had disabled his attacker. He immediately called 911, and did not insult or injure the perp further.
(4) Mr. Nguyen lives in Las Vegas, not Boston, Washington D.C., NYC, Chicago, or any one a dozen other cities where you'd be expected to roll over and submit to a criminal.
By now I assume that Mr. Nguyen has received multiple offers of
pro bono legal assistance and advice. I'm certain that the first thing they've told him is "stop speaking to the media". If the DA does decide to bring charges against Mr. Nguyen, I do not doubt that we'll be seeing a Rittenhouse-style fundraising effort for his defense.