In a quiet Bethel, Connecticut neighborhood, the tranquility was shattered on March 25, 2016, marking a day of tragedy for the Cristofalo family. Charles Cristofalo, a 76-year-old White male, was found deceased in his home on Governors Lane from gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The incident, which unfolded in the afternoon, was the grim result of a domestic dispute that escalated to violence, leaving a community in shock.
Responding to a hang-up 911 call, police arrived at the
residence to a grim scene. Inside, they discovered Charles Cristofalo in his bedroom. Elsewhere in the house, they found his wife, Anh Cristofalo, and her brother, 56-year-old Thai Pham, both with serious gunshot wounds. Anh Cristofalo was the sole survivor of the tragic event.
The investigation swiftly pointed to Thai Pham as the perpetrator of the triple shooting. Authorities determined that Pham had shot and killed his brother-in-law, Charles, and wounded his sister, Anh, before turning the weapon on himself. Pham died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound the day after the shooting. The weapon used in the deadly assault was described by police as a makeshift "zip gun".
The motive behind the violent outburst appeared to stem from a landlord-tenant dispute that had been brewing for some time. Court records revealed that Charles Cristofalo had initiated eviction proceedings against Pham, who had been living in the home. An agreement had been reached for Pham to vacate the premises by March 25, the very day the shooting occurred. The investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide, with no outstanding suspects.
