Anderson pleads not guilty, murder trial date set

The man charged with murdering the owner of the K&T Meat Market and Grocery on West Lincoln Road in late July 2014 pleaded not guilty after a grand jury indicted him for first-degree murder and armed robbery on January 28.
Defendant Samuel Anderson’s bond is set at $1 million and his trial is scheduled for July 6.
Anderson was 30 when he robbed the grocery store, where he is accused of shooting Ann Nguyen, 59, the owner of the store. Anderson had a criminal record of more than a decade, including burglary, illegal possession of a firearm, sexual battery, and drug violations, among other criminal charges.
Police said Anderson, who resided on Laran Street in Ville Platte, entered the store before noon and ordered the customers to leave, then he allegedly shot Nguyen several times in the process of robbing the store. It was the first murder in the city in 2014.
Police credited the quick apprehension of Anderson to the close working relationship between law enforcement within Evangeline Parish, and with Coushatta police and the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue praised the teamwork in gathering information quickly among law enforcement that led to the arrest.
Nguyen had five children and had planned to retire soon and live with her children in Cal;ifornia. She had owned the store for about 10 years.