SAN JOSE, CA — Fugitive Murder Suspect Lam Thanh Mac Captured After 10 Months on the Run, Held Without Bail
SAN JOSE, CA — After nearly a year on the run, a fugitive wanted in connection with a deadly 2024 shooting in San Jose has been apprehended and is now in custody. Lam Thanh Mac, 39, was arrested and returned to Santa Clara County following a coordinated law enforcement operation that ended a months-long manhunt. Authorities say Mac fled to the Las Vegas area shortly after the August 2024 killing and managed to evade capture until his recent arrest back in the Bay Area.
Mac, a San Jose resident with a prior conviction for voluntary manslaughter, appeared in court Tuesday at the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice. A judge denied his request for bail. He is formally charged with the murder of 34-year-old Khoa Dang Dang, who was fatally shot inside a commercial business on McLaughlin Avenue during the early morning hours of August 11, 2024.
A Deadly Night in San Jose
According to court documents and the San Jose Police Department (SJPD), officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire inside a business near the 1700 block of McLaughlin Avenue shortly after 3 a.m. on the morning of the shooting. When officers arrived, they found Dang critically wounded from gunfire. Despite life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The gunman, later identified as Lam Thanh Mac, had already fled. Investigators launched a homicide investigation, quickly identifying Mac as the prime suspect based on witness accounts and surveillance footage from the business.
Escape and Evasion
SJPD detectives determined that Mac had left the area immediately after the incident. Investigators believed he fled to Nevada, specifically the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area, in an attempt to avoid capture. Months of work followed as SJPD’s Homicide Unit, in collaboration with federal partners and regional task forces, attempted to locate the fugitive.
“Detectives learned the suspect had immediately left the area after the incident and was believed to have fled to the greater Las Vegas Metropolitan area of Nevada,” SJPD Sgt. Jorge Garibay stated in an official report.
Despite the initial trail going cold, authorities say the case remained active, fueled in part by public engagement. Tips from the community—many driven by widespread media coverage and shares across social platforms—played a crucial role in revitalizing the investigation.
Arrest and Return to San Jose
On June 19, 2025, Mac was finally located at a residence in San Jose. According to police, he had traveled back to the Bay Area, where he had been lying low. Officers from SJPD’s MERGE Unit, Covert Response Unit, and the Special Operations Division coordinated a tactical operation to apprehend him without incident.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our community and the widespread attention this case received through social media and news agencies, critical information was brought forward that led to a significant break in the case,” Sgt. Garibay said. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who shared information, kept this case in the public eye, and supported the search for justice.”
Mac’s arrest marks a significant development in a case that has haunted the victim’s family and unsettled the local community for months. He now faces a murder charge, and prosecutors have cited his previous criminal history in opposing any bail consideration. Records show that Mac had previously served time for a voluntary manslaughter conviction, underscoring the risk he posed while at large.
A Community Demands Justice
The killing of Khoa Dang Dang, a local man remembered by family and friends as hardworking and kind, has left lasting pain. Vigils were held in the weeks following his death, and his loved ones continued to advocate for justice throughout Mac’s months on the run. Tuesday’s court appearance brought some measure of relief, but the road to resolution remains long.
Mac remains in custody at the Santa Clara County Main Jail and is expected to return to court for further proceedings in the coming weeks. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they intend to seek enhanced sentencing based on his prior conviction, but sources close to the case say the District Attorney’s Office is preparing to pursue the matter aggressively.
As the legal process unfolds, San Jose Police continue to encourage community members to report any additional information that may be relevant to the case or any associated incidents.
Anyone with relevant information can contact the SJPD Homicide Unit at (408) 277-5283 or leave an anonymous tip through Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.