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MILPITAS, Calif. (TCN) — Authorities found a family of four deceased in an apartment from a suspected murder-suicide this week.
On Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Milpitas Police Department responded to a home on McCandless Drive to perform a welfare check on Vinh Nguyen and Betty Pham after family members had not heard from the victims for several days. According to the Los Angeles Times, the couple also failed to show up to work at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.
Officers entered and reportedly found Pham and the two children deceased in their beds with single gunshot wounds to their heads. Authorities allegedly located Nguyen with two head wounds and a handgun on his right thigh.
Police recovered a handgun legally registered to Nguyen at the scene, and they allege he shot his family members before turning the gun on himself.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Milpitas Police Department Lt. Tyler Jamison said Nguyen’s motive remains under investigation. However, per coroner’s records reviewed by the newspaper, family members recently became concerned about Nguyen. He and Pham were reportedly going through a divorce, and he was suffering from mental health issues and had just bought a handgun.
Officers said, “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. The loss of their lives was preventable, and we urge those in need to seek support to prevent incidents like this from happening again.”