In a senseless act of violence that shook a Seattle community, 14-year-old Christy Phu, a female freshman at Chief Sealth International High School, was tragically killed in her own home. The dispute that led to her death began over a pair of Michael Jordan sneakers her father had gifted her. Her 24-year-old uncle, Si Phu, demanded she give him the shoes, but Christy refused.
The confrontation escalated over several hours through text messages and in-person arguments, during which Si Phu
threatened to kill both Christy and her cousin. At one point, Christy did give her uncle a pair of shoes, but they were not the ones he wanted. Fearing for their safety, Christy and her 16-year-old cousin barricaded themselves in their shared bedroom in the Columbia City neighborhood. Their efforts to stay safe were futile as Si Phu kicked the door open, armed with a handgun. He pointed the weapon directly at his niece's head and, after uttering a final, frustrated question, fired a single shot.
After the shooting, Si Phu fled the residence. Family members who heard the gunshot found Christy bleeding on her bed and carried her downstairs to the living room while they awaited medical help. She was rushed to Harborview Medical Center but ultimately succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. Christy's father, in a state of shock, called Si Phu, who answered and chillingly acknowledged the shooting before hanging up.
Two days after the incident, police located and arrested Si Phu in the Skyway area. He was charged with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, as a prior felony conviction for domestic-violence cyberstalking prohibited him from legally owning a gun. He later claimed to police that he only meant to hit her and expressed guilt, stating she didn't deserve to die. Si Phu eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and in September 2016, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the "incredibly senseless and shocking killing" of his niece.
