Alleged Calgary gangster accused of killing in front of child sees 1 of 4 murder charges dropped

A Calgary man accused of killing a couple in front of a five-year-old child has seen one of his four gang-related murder charges dropped.

Provincial court Judge HeatherLamoureux ruled last week that the first-degree murder case against Jimmy Truong in the death ofLouie Mojica, 27, was not strong enough to send to trial.

Truong will still go to trial on other murder charges, accused of killing three people with rival gang ties: a couple in front of a five-year-old boy and a man outside his Edmonton home weeks earlier.

At the time of Mojica's death, police said the shooting was a targetedattack and thatthe victimwas known to police. Mojica left behind a young son.

Nobody else has been charged in connection with Mojica's death although police have said several people were involved in the shooting.

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Defence lawyer Derek Jugnauth said his client is "very pleased" with the judge's decision.

"While his remaining charges are equally serious he looks forward to the pre-trial process unfolding over the coming months and having his day in court next year," said Jugnauth.

Prosecutor Adam May says the Crown is reviewing Lamoureux's decision.

Gang connections

Truong has ties to the FK gang. When he was released on bail, Truong was ordered to stay away from three well-known FK gangsters.

From 2002 to 2009,at least 25 deaths were connected to the gang war in Calgary between the FOB (Fresh Off the Boat or Forever Our Brothers) and FK (FOB Killers) gangs.

Since then, many of the FOB's higher-ups have been killed or incarcerated.

Couple killed in front of child

In September 2016, Cuc Lung and Quang Tran who had ties to the FOB gang were gunned down in a caroutside their home on Redstone Manor in northeast Calgary.

Lung's five-year-old son was in the backseat of the vehicle and witnessed his mother's killing but was not injured.

Mojica who left behind an eight-year-old son was foundfatally shot in the front seat of a Dodge Charger a month before Lung and Tran were killed.

Truong wasn't charged until June 2019.

In October 2016, Phu Phan, 30, was fatally shot outside his Edmonton home.

Investigators believe all four homicides were targeted attacks carried out by an organized crime group.

A six-week jury trial is scheduled for next year.