OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
12:00 PM – Friday, October 2, 2026
Southern California authorities have identified and arrested a suspect responsible for the brutal killing of a puppy, following a massive public outcry over disturbing surveillance footage showing a minivan driver luring the puppy under a vehicle by placing food near the tire.
Santa Ana Police Department investigators arrested 75-year-old Hahn Nguyen of Anaheim after matching her vehicle through Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology and tip-off leads generated by viral online footage.
Nguyen was booked into the Santa Ana Jail on charges of felony animal cruelty and animal abandonment, while officers recovered the suspect vehicle — an older-model Honda Odyssey minivan — parked inside her home garage.
“Using Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, detectives identified the vehicle involved and an associated address in the City of Anaheim.This morning, SAPD detectives arrested 75-year-old Hahn Nguyen, who admitted to owning and abandoning her 9-month-old pit bull, ‘Blackey.’ Detectives also located the vehicle parked inside her garage,” the Santa Ana Police Department posted on social media.
The investigation stems from a horrific September 8th incident near West Park Lane in Santa Ana, where home security cameras caught the calculated abandonment of a 9-month-old pit bull mix named Blackey.
In the footage, the driver pulled up along a quiet residential street, lifted the puppy out of the vehicle, and placed food on the asphalt near the tires. As the unsuspecting animal crouched under the chassis to eat, the driver slowly accelerated forward, crushing the dog beneath the rear tire — brutally killing the defenseless young canine.
The vehicle remained positioned directly on top of the struggling puppy for roughly 15 seconds before the driver sped away, leaving the severely injured animal to die in the street. Police released clips of the video in hopes of identifying the perpetrator, sparking widespread public outrage and intense scrutiny across social media platforms.
Though early neighborhood surveillance footage lacked a clear shot of the vehicle’s license plate, neighborhood canvassing combined with regional ALPR camera hits allowed detectives to narrow down the suspects. Upon her arrest, authorities revealed that Nguyen confessed to owning and abandoning the puppy.
Law enforcement officials have since expressed deep gratitude to community members who circulated the suspect’s description and provided crucial information that led to the swift arrest. Nguyen now faces up to several years in prison and heavy fines under California Penal Code provisions governing severe animal abuse.
Specific information regarding whether she has posted bail or remains in custody has not yet been publicly released by authorities or reflected in jail log updates. In California, formal bail status and release details are typically updated following her initial court appearance and arraignment.
No family members have publicly issued statements or reached out through media outlets.
However, according to reporting by Gateway Pundit, her boyfriend was involved in the context surrounding the incident. According to police statements, Nguyen allegedly claimed that her boyfriend was annoyed because the puppy had been chewing on his shoes, which led to her plan to abandon the dog.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below