Austin Chan Arrested, Charged With Murder in Aloha Suburb Incident
Portland/ Crime & Emergencies
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Published on May 10, 2024
Austin Chan Arrested, Charged With Murder in Aloha Suburb IncidentSource: Washington County Sheriff's Office

A young man is behind bars, facing charges for the death of another man in Aloha, in what's become the latest episode in a string of violence shaking the suburban community.

24-year-old Austin Chan was swiftly taken into custody on Wednesday, shortly after Washington County deputies rushed to investigate a call concerning a death at approximately 6:10 a.m. The victim, identified as 53-year-old Chad Thibodeaux of Olympia, Washington, was found with severe head wounds lying in a quiet residential neighborhood, and authorities wasted little time to start piecing together the grim puzzle. According to information obtained by KATU, witnesses provided descriptions that allowed law enforcement to rapidly zero in on Chan.

The incident occurred near the intersection of Southwest Rachelle Court and 203rd Avenue, a detail released by the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Thibodeaux's body, lifeless and marred by the afflictions visited upon it, prompted a swift and concerted law enforcement response in an attempt to apprehend the perpetrator.

About 50 minutes after receiving the initial call, a deputy spotted Chan not far from the scene, near Southwest 185th Avenue and TV Highway. The deputy didn't hesitate to take him into custody, marking a prompt conclusion to what could have easily been a prolonged manhunt. "A deputy took Chan into custody," the sheriff's office confirmed, indicating a clear and unyielding resolve to quickly to bring to justice those accused of disturbing the suburban peace.