March 8, 2010
Gun Shot
Ontario Provincial Police
On March 8, 2010, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Cst. Vu Pham of the Huron County Detachment was shot and killed Monday when pulling over a vehicle in rural south western Ontario, an incident witnesses said set off a close-range gunfight between the suspect and officers.
Cst. Pham, 37, was shot and “immediately incapacitated” after taking the “initiative to intercept” the suspect shortly after 10:00 a.m., Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino said. “It is with a sense of loss and deep regret that I’m informing… that we lost officer Pham. He succumbed to his injuries a short while ago at hospital.” Expressing the profound grief of the thousands of OPP members, Commissioner Julian Fantino said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of this young, brave officer who was committed to protecting the citizens of Ontario. Pham was responding to an occurrence and doing what our people do every day in the line of duty. They take the initiative to respond to situations as they arise; he was just doing his job. Absolutely, it’s that pure. He was doing his job.”
“Officers in close proximity to the scene located the suspect. The suspect was also shot in the incident,” Fantino said. The suspect, who was in hospital, is believed to be in his 70s and has been charged with 1st degree murder and attempt murder.
A 15-year veteran of the force, Pham was a married father of three. His wife, Heather, and their sons Tyler, 12, Jordan, 10, and Joshua, 7, were with him when he died. Our condolences go out to the family, colleagues, and friends.