Shooting suspect wanted for identity theft

The Hempstead man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend and leaving her in a car in Lynbrook is wanted in Virginia for allegedly stealing his dad's identity, authorities said.

About 10 months before accused shooter Dung Tran, 38, allegedly used a .38 caliber gun to shoot Maria Ayala, 62, in the head, he opened two credit cards in his dad's name without permission, according to Lt. Eric Owens of the Henrico County, Va., police. Tran's father found out about the Visa and MasterCard after he got the bills, Owens said.

When Tran failed to show up for a court appearance last fall, he was charged with contempt of court and a warrant for his arrest was issued by Judge Stuart Williams of Henrico Juvenile/Domestic Relations Court, which handled the case because it involves a relative, said court clerk Gene Giddings.

Tran is charged in Henrico with three felonies: credit card forgery, receiving a stolen credit card number and identity theft, Giddings said.

In Nassau, he was arraigned Tuesday on a second-degree murder charge in the slaying of Ayala, whom a Lynbrook cop found dead in a 1991 Toyota Corolla parked on Merrick Road on May 1. She'd gone missing the night before after leaving her grandchildren in the care of a neighbor while she ran errands.

Authorities in Nassau have not released a motive or any evidence against Tran, who's jailed without bail. He is due back in Nassau court on Thursday.

Ayala's adult son has said his mother and Tran were dating.

Owens said Virginia authorities knew that Tran was in custody but didn't know if Tran could be extradited.