On December 17, 2024, authorities conducted a welfare check at the Turing Apartments on McCandless Drive in Milpitas, California, after family members reported not hearing from their loved ones for several days. Upon entry, officers discovered the bodies of 36-year-old Vinh Nguyen, his wife, 36-year-old Chau Bao "Betty" Pham, and their two children, aged 9 and 4, each with a single gunshot wound. A handgun legally registered to Nguyen was found at the scene.
Investigators have identified Vinh Nguyen as the primary suspect, concluding that he fatally shot his wife and children before taking his own life in an apparent murder-suicide. The tragic event is believed to have occurred on December 14, 2024. Both Nguyen and Pham were employees of the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). Reports indicate that the couple was undergoing a divorce at the time of the incident.
Neighbors and community members have expressed shock and sorrow over the family's deaths. Bouquets of flowers have been placed outside the family's apartment as a memorial. The Milpitas Police Department stated that there were no prior domestic violence-related calls to the family's residence. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to this tragedy, urging individuals experiencing distress to seek support to prevent similar incidents in the future.
