San Francisco man charged with attempted murder of mail carrier

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal grand jury has indicted a San Francisco man for attempted murder after gunshots were fired at a mail carrier attempting to deliver a package at his address, prosecutors said.    

Vo Nguyen made an initial federal court appearance Friday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement.   

Prosecutors said the carrier was attempting to deliver mail to a woman outside Nguyen's residence on April 1 when Nguyen allegedly came out of the house, yelling at him.   

When the carrier escaped down the street, Nguyen allegedly gave chase and was pepper-sprayed by the USPS employee.   Nguyen allegedly got into a Toyota Land Cruiser and found the carrier on a nearby street and fired at him seven to eight times, prosecutors said.   

As the carrier tried to run away, Nguyen allegedly fired an additional five shots.  

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The carrier took cover behind a parked SUV in a driveway, and Nguyen made a U-turn, drove back up the street, and fired three more times until he ran out of ammunition, prosecutors said.   

Nguyen is charged with assault on a federal employee with a deadly weapon, attempted murder of a federal employee and using a firearm in a crime of violence.   

If found guilty, Vo faces up to 20 years in prison on the assault and attempted murder charges. The firearm charge carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison.