FAIRFAX, VA – A Virginia man found guilty of fatally shooting his girlfriend is expected to remain incarcerated for years to come following a jury’s decision in a high-profile murder case that brought months of scrutiny and conflicting accounts.
Huy “Max” Nguyen, 47, was convicted of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with the death of Alison “Kate” Laporta, 38, a mother of two. Jurors reached their verdict this week after hearing emotional testimony and combing through evidence that contradicted Nguyen’s shifting explanations for what happened the night of April 17.
Authorities say Nguyen and Laporta were together in an SUV in Annandale when Laporta sustained a fatal gunshot wound to her upper body. Instead of calling for emergency help immediately, Nguyen drove her to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. Police responding to the hospital made contact with Nguyen, who appeared compliant as captured on police body camera recordings.
Laporta was transferred to another medical facility, where she was later pronounced dead. Investigators quickly turned their attention to Nguyen, who initially told officers that Laporta had been struck by a stray bullet while they were in a parking lot. Detectives, however, determined that evidence at the scene did not support that story.
Further investigation revealed that Laporta was shot inside the vehicle Nguyen used to transport her to the hospital. During a search, police located the firearm believed to be used in the killing near Nguyen’s residence.
As the case moved to trial, Nguyen’s version of events changed several times. He eventually claimed that Laporta attempted to shoot him and that she caused her own death. Attorneys for Nguyen presented medical records suggesting Laporta had struggled with her mental health, but prosecutors countered with witnesses who had been with the couple at a pool hall just hours before the shooting. One witness recalled Nguyen threatening, “I’m going to shoot this girl,” offering chilling insight into his mindset leading up to Laporta’s death.
Forensic evidence reinforced the prosecution’s theory: four shell casings were recovered from the driver’s side of the SUV, while another casing was found in Laporta’s purse and a sixth in the rear seat. Analysis of the bullet’s trajectory and markings on Laporta’s seatbelt suggested the fatal shot was fired at close range, directly implicating Nguyen as the shooter.
Prosecutors highlighted more than 400 falsehoods Nguyen allegedly told during the investigation, including repeated attempts to mislead detectives about how Laporta was killed. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office emphasized that the physical evidence and testimonies overwhelmingly pointed to Nguyen as the person responsible for Laporta’s death.
Family members expressed their grief after the verdict. The victim’s father said that while justice had been served, the loss of his daughter, who was deeply devoted to her children and friends, could never be undone.
Nguyen is scheduled for sentencing in February. Under Virginia law, he could receive up to 40 years in prison for the second-degree murder conviction. Prosecutors have expressed hope that the verdict provides a sense of closure for Laporta’s loved ones, even as they mourn a life cut short.