Sheriff Bill Brown and District Attorney Joyce Dudley announce the arrest of Pierre Haobsh, who is charged with killing the Han family.
Paul Wellman

Pierre Haobsh, a 27-year-old Oceanside man, was arrested early Friday morning for the fatal shooting of Chinese herbalist Dr. Henry Han, 57, his wife Jennie Yu, 29, and the couple’s daughter Emily Han, 5. Haobsh was taken into custody at gunpoint at a gas station in Bonsall, a San Diego suburb east of Oceanside, where he lives with his father.

Around 12:30 a.m., authorities spotted Haobsh driving a 2013 red Lexus sedan and followed him to a gas station. At the time of his arrest, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Friday afternoon briefing, Haobsh had a loaded 9mm and property authorities believe belonged to a victim.

A memorial of flowers, candles, cards and notes for the slain Han family outside the Santa Barbara Herb Clinic.
Paul Wellman

Preliminary indications are that “financial gain” motivated the crimes, said Brown, and that Haobsh is believed to have been a “business acquaintance” of Han. Haobsh “was recently involved in a business transaction with Mr. Han,” Brown said. No other details were provided.

The family’s bodies were discovered Wednesday evening when authorities paid a 5:30 p.m. welfare check to their 4640 Greenhill Way home near Goleta. Two of Han’s business colleagues visited the residence after Han missed a business meeting that morning in Los Angeles, behavior they called “highly uncharacteristic.” They arrived at the home to find the “door ajar” with Han and Yu’s cars parked in the garage and called the police, Brown said.

Pierre Haobsh

The three “bodies [were] all wrapped in plastic wrap, duct taped, and in the garage of the residence,” said Brown. Han, Yu, and Emily suffered “multiple gunshot wounds,” and authorities believe Emily suffered “an additional [striking] injury.”

Dr. Henry Han (left), Emily Han, and Jennie Yu

Brown called the “diabolical and premeditated crime” “one of the most odious that I have been involved in.” Echoing his sentiments was Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, who praised law enforcement officials’ efforts. “It’s been a long 36 hours for all of them,” she said.

Pending autopsies, no exact time of death has been determined. Yu and Emily, who would have turned 6 tomorrow, were last seen alive at 7 p.m. Tuesday; Han was last seen alive at 10 p.m. the same night.

Haobsh has been charged with three counts of murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

• Original Report: Triple Homicide on Greenhill Way

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