51-year-old co-worker arrested in fatal stabbing of retired Cal State Fullerton administrator

A 51-year old co-worker has been arrested in the slaying of a retired Cal State Fullerton administrator who was discovered stabbed to death in his vehicle on campus on Monday.

Fullerton police said Chuyen Vo fatally stabbed 57-year-old Steven Shek Keung Chan of Hacienda Heights, who was found with multiple wounds, on Monday morning, Aug. 19.

Vo, arrested on Wednesday night at his home in Huntington Beach, is being held without bail on suspicion of murder.

The suspect, initially described as an Asian man in his mid-20s,  fled after the stabbing, but he was captured on surveillance video running through a nearby parking lot wearing all black. Police also believe Vo left his backpack behind, underneath the victim’s car. A crude incendiary device, described as a bottle filled with flammable liquid with matches attached, was found inside the backpack, Lt. Jon Radus said.

Bladed weapons and items that potentially could be used in a kidnapping attempt were also recovered by police.

The discovery of the backpack, which also contained zip ties, a knife, wigs and other disguise materials, led authorities to believe Chan was targeted and not the subject of a random attack.

A sketch of the possible suspect was released by authorities a day after Chan was found.

Radus would not disclose how police found Vo, or what they believe the motive was.

“This was an isolated incident,” Cal State Fullerton President Framroze Virjee said at a news conference on Thursday, stressing no danger remains for students, faculty or staff.

However, increased counseling services will remain available to students and staff on campus, Virjee said. Extra security will remain on the campus through Monday.

Vo has no criminal record in Orange County, according to court records.

He was sued by Citibank over a several thousand dollar debt in 2008, records show, and in 2009 filed for bankruptcy.

Based on court records, it appears he has lived at the same Huntington Beach residence for at least ten years.

Cerise Metzger, a spokeswoman for the university, would not provide information on Vo’s employment status or how long he’s worked at Cal State Fullerton, citing the ongoing police investigation.

Radus initially described Chan as a retired faculty member who had returned to the campus, working in international student admissions. University officials later called him “a retired administrator working as a consultant on campus.”

Neighbors in the quiet Huntington Beach neighborhood where Vo lived were in disbelief upon hearing news of his arrest.

Vo lived in the house with his wife, mother-in-law and two teenage children, said neighbor Fickri Dakma, 77.

“He’s away most of the time,” said Anne Fitzgerald, a next-door neighbor who added Vo seemed to be a nice guy and the two chatted on occasion.

Fitzgerald said she saw police vehicles converge in the neighborhood of single-family homes Wednesday night. By Thursday afternoon, the only evidence of police activity in the cul-de-sac was a bag with crime scene tape inside.

Gloria Venlet, 80, lives across the street from Vo and said he was always a friendly neighbor. But she grew suspicious after hearing news of the CSUF murder, knowing he worked there as an administrator and drove a black BMW.

“I had all of those suspicions,” she said, “because of what I had read and how well it matched and how the picture (the police sketch) looked pretty much like him. But I just thought there’s no way.”

Then Venlet, who has lived in her home for 40 years, looked out the window on Wednesday night and saw the police cars.

“It’s just unbelievable to me,” she said.

Venlet confirmed that the booking photo police released on Thursday was of her neighbor. But she said he looked different in the photo because he appeared stern, unlike the smiling, waving neighbor she’s known.

“He has such a calm and sweet demeanor,” she said.