Buddhist monk praying in temple killed by bullet that came through wall, NC cops say
A Buddhist monk was praying Saturday when a bullet tore through the temple wall and killed him, police say.
Another monk at the Buddhist Temple in High Point, North Carolina, found Tam Dinh Tran kneeling at the altar in “a praying position” and saw blood coming from his nose, according to a release from High Point police.
The monk thought Tran was suffering a medical condition and called 911.
When EMS arrived, first responders started CPR and discovered an injury below Tran’s right armpit they thought to be a stab wound, police say.
EMS continued CPR, but 50-year-old Tran was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release.
Officers investigated his death as a homicide since he had no other injuries and “no other signs of violence” were found in the temple, the release says.
They later searched the temple and found two bullet holes in the temple’s exterior wall along with a bullet “lodged in a stud in the building,” per the release.
Police believe the bullets were fired on or near South Scientific Street, where the temple is located, then tore through the temple wall, one of them hitting Tran.
Detectives on Sunday found two handgun casings on the road and sent them for forensic analysis, the release says. On Monday, the medical examiner discovered a projectile in Tran’s chest but couldn’t determine the bullet’s caliber.
Detectives are waiting for the results of his autopsy for more information.
Police say they have no information that indicates Tran or the temple were targeted in the shooting based on the investigation so far.
Anyone with information should contact Detective Buben at 336-887-7867 or Crime Stoppers at 336-889-4000, the release says.
High Point has a high homicide rate.
Last year in High Point, 16 killings were investigated, The Greensboro News & Record reports, and 64 were investigated in Guilford County, home to the city. In 2019, CBS News listed High Point among the deadliest cities in the country, at No. 25 with a murder rate of 16.9 per 100,000.
The city has also been called “Little Chicago” for its high crime rate, WFMY reports. An analysis by the TV station found its crime rate is on par with Chicago’s after taking population into account. High Point has a population of about 112,000, per the most available Census data.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 5:23 PM with the headline "Buddhist monk praying in temple killed by bullet that came through wall, NC cops say."
