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Cal State Fullerton stabbing: Suspect in killing is co-worker

Police investigate a car where a retired Cal State Fullerton administrator was stabbed to death Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, in Fullerton, Calif. 

FULLERTON, Calif. — Authorities announced on Thursday the arrest of Chuyen Vo in connection to the stabbing death of retired administrator at a college campus in Southern California.

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The man is suspected of stabbing former California State University Fullerton administrator Steven Shek Keung Chan, 57, to death Monday in a parking lot at the school.

9 p.m. EDT Aug. 22: Neighbors of the suspect said they couldn't imagine he'd commit such a crime.

Vo's neighbor, Michael Wood, said Vo lived with his wife, mother-in-law and children and had a side job selling life insurance and annuities. Another neighbor, Gloria Venlet, said Vo always was smiling, and she's stunned by the arrest.

No one answered the door at Vo's home.

5 p.m. EDT Aug. 22: The suspect in the stabbing death of Chan was a co-worker, according to the Washington Post.

Lt. Jon Radus said Thursday that 51-year-old Chuyen Vo was arrested Wednesday night at his home in Huntington Beach.

Radus would not comment on the work relationship of the suspect and the victim, 57-year-old Steven Shek Keung Chan.

2:35 p.m. EDT Aug. 22: Authorities are expected to announce an arrest in the case at a news conference scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Thursday, KTLA and KABC reported.

Police said they found Chan around 8:30 a.m. Monday with several stab wounds in a parking lot on the Cal State Fullerton campus. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have said they were searching for a suspect in the case, described as an Asian man with black hair in his mid-20s. Police have not identified a suspect by name.

Update 12:55 p.m. EDT Aug. 20: Police released a sketch Tuesday of the man suspected of stabbing 57-year-old Steven Shek Keung Chan to death one day earlier in a parking lot at Cal State Fullerton.

Authorities said the man was last seen running northbound on Langsdorf Drive and then eastbound on Nutwood Avenue. Police believe he might have been injured in the attack and might have lacerations to one or both of his hands.

Police said officers recovered a backpack which they believe belonged to the suspect during their investigation. It was found under Chen's vehicle and contained "an incendiary device along with numerous items that were consistent with a kidnapping attempt or plot, including zip ties, wigs and other disguise materials," police said.

The bag also contained a knife separate from the one used in Monday's attack, according to authorities.

Police believe Chan, who recently returned to the school as a special consultant after retiring as an administrator in 2017, was specifically targeted in the attack, according to authorities and the Los Angeles Times.

Police continue to investigate.

Original report: Authorities are searching for a suspect after a retired administrator was stabbed and killed Monday on a Southern California college campus.

According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities said Steven Shek Keung Chan, 57, of Hacienda Heights, had several stab wounds when police found him in his car, which was parked in a lot on California State University's Fullerton campus, about 8:30 a.m. Monday. Police also discovered an "incendiary device," which did not go off, nearby, the newspaper reported.

Police believe the assailant specifically targeted Chan, who recently returned as a special consultant after retiring as director of budget and finance and student services for extended education in 2017, the Times reported.

In a tweet, university police described the suspect, who reportedly fled the scene and was still on the run late Monday, as an Asian man in his mid-20s with black hair. He was wearing black pants and a black shirt, authorities said. No further information was immediately available.

In a letter to students, faculty and staff, university President Framroze Virjee called the attack "tragic and senseless."

"As the investigation into Steven's death is ongoing, we are unable to provide information beyond what the Fullerton Police share publicly," the letter read. "What I can do, however, is join all of you in adding to the tremendous outreach of love and support that has already embraced our Titan Family during this tragic and difficult time. That begins with pausing in thought and prayer for Steven, his family, and all Titans who are grieving and grappling with the reality of such an unspeakable act and tragic loss in our community."

>> Read the full letter here

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.