Cops ID Suspect in Slaying at Washington Ave. Restaurant

Images via Philadelphia Police Department

Philadelphia Police have ID’d a suspect in the slaying of a cook at Lee’s Cafe & Bistro on Washington Avenue last week.

Police are looking for 27-year-old Noel Ortea Lemus Del Cid, a Honduran national whose last known address is 1331 S. 9th Street. He is accused in the slaying of Thoung Nguyen, a 54-year-old cook at the restaurant who lived on the 2000 block of Emily Street in South Philadelphia.

Cops say the suspect worked as a kitchen helper at Lee’s. He and Nguyen were working in the basement when owners sent down a food order. After 10 minutes, the owner went downstairs to find Nguyen alone with her throat slashed. He flagged down police officers on Washington Avenue, but Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene.

The police released the following description:

5’6”, with a thin to medium build, and works in the restaurant field as a kitchen helper; he may have a cut to one of his hands, and drives a white SUV

Anyone with information is asked to call the PPD’s homicide division at 215-686-3334. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in all homicide investigations.

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