FAIRFAX, VA – Justice caught up with a Virginia man after a jury found him guilty in the shooting death of his girlfriend, ending months of misleading accounts and denial. Huy “Max” Nguyen, 47, now remains jailed as he awaits sentencing for the April 2024 killing.
Nguyen was found guilty by a Fairfax County jury on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the April 2024 killing of Alison “Kate” Laporta, 38. The victim, a mother of two, died after suffering gunshot wounds delivered inside her vehicle, according to investigators.
On the night of April 17, Nguyen drove Laporta to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital after she was shot in the upper body. Police responded to the hospital, where they questioned Nguyen and began piecing together the circumstances of Laporta’s injuries. Despite efforts to save her, Laporta was pronounced dead after being transferred to another facility.
Detectives quickly cast doubt on Nguyen’s initial claim that Laporta had been struck by a stray bullet while in a parking lot in Annandale. Through forensic evidence and inconsistencies in his accounts, investigators determined the shooting occurred in the car Nguyen used to bring Laporta to the hospital. The firearm believed to have been used in the crime was later discovered near Nguyen’s residence.
As the investigation unfolded, Nguyen’s narrative shifted. At various points, he suggested Laporta may have attempted to shoot at him or that she had shot herself. Defense attorneys presented medical records citing a prior mental health crisis Laporta experienced in 2022, seeking to bolster these claims.
Prosecutors, however, presented evidence countering Nguyen’s assertions, including eyewitness testimony from individuals who were with the couple earlier in the evening. According to courtroom statements, Nguyen had made alarming comments about a potential confrontation escalating to gunfire. Witnesses recalled Nguyen stating, “The only way this argument ends is with a bullet,” and even voicing, “I’m going to shoot this girl.”
Evidence collected from the crime scene included four bullet casings found on the driver’s side of the SUV, another inside Laporta’s purse, and an additional casing in the back seat. Further forensic analysis revealed the bullet’s trajectory and marks matching the firearm to Laporta’s seatbelt, strengthening the prosecution’s case that Nguyen was the shooter.
Authorities said the verdict provided a measure of justice, though the loss for Laporta’s loved ones remains profound. Her father expressed sorrow, emphasizing that the conviction, while necessary, could not heal the family’s pain or bring back his daughter. He described Laporta as a devoted mother and friend, cherished by her family and community.
Over the course of the investigation, prosecutors documented hundreds of conflicting statements Nguyen made to law enforcement, pointing to a sustained effort to conceal the truth and evade responsibility.
Nguyen is scheduled to be sentenced in February and, under Virginia law, faces a maximum of 40 years in prison for the murder charge. The local prosecutor’s office voiced relief that justice had been served but underscored the tragedy at the heart of the case.