**UPDATED**
SUNDRIDGE – Shots fired on a normally quiet section of southern Ontario country road are reverberating across the province.
And though they were fired hundreds of kilometres away, they seem to have landed in Sundridge.
In what can only be described as the most bizarre of circumstances — details of which are still unfolding — the two people at the centre of the drama that played out on North Line near Winthrop both have strong connections to Sundridge.
On Monday morning Constable Vu Pham, a 37-year-old, 15-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police was fatally shot during what witnesses described as a seemingly routine traffic stop that quickly turned into anything but.
In a news conference Monday afternoon, OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said Pham had been shot just before 10:30 a.m. After pulling over a vehicle, Pham was confronted by an armed suspect. The suspect shot and critically injured the officer. Other OPP officers arrived and secured the scene and Pham was airlifted directly to London Health Sciences Centre where a medical team worked to save his life. The OPP announced shortly after that Pham had died of his injuries.
Pham is the son of Dan and Terry Thompson. Dan served as pastor of Bethel Pentecostal Church in Sundridge for about a decade, his time there running from the early 1990s until the early 2000s when he moved on to a new congregation in Hailebury. Pham, who most recently resided in Wingham, has three siblings who live in the Almaguin Highlands. His two brothers reside in Sundridge while his sister lives in Trout Creek. Pham’s wife Heather, formerly Weber, was also raised in the Trout Creek area.
The man suspected of pulling the trigger and taking Pham’s life has been identified as Sundridge resident Fred Preston. Preston served as reeve of Joly Township from 1996 to 2003 and served as a Joly councillor from 1991 to 1996.
Preston has not been charged with any crime as of this time.
Police say Preston was wounded at the scene. He is currently listed in critical condition at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario.
Monica Hudon, a spokesperson for the Special Investigation Unit, described critical condition as meaning “vital signs may be unstable. . . indicators are unfavourable and death may be imminent.”
A Canadian Press report on the Toronto Star website reports the suspect used a “high powered rifle” in the deadly attack. The report further lists that Preston was shot as many as six times.
Police are withholding details on how, in a strange twist of fate, two men with ties to the the rural community of Sundridge came to be involved in a deadly incident that happened many miles away from their homes.
The naming of Fred Preston as the “number one suspect,” as described by Commissioner Fantino, has come as a shock to many Almaguin residents already reeling from news of Pham’s death.
A close family member of Pham’s contacted the Almaguin News to state they are certain that he and Preston did not know each other.
Pham was the father of three boys, Tyler, Jordan and Joshua, aged 12, 10 and 7 respectively. Media reports state Pham and his family resided in Wingham where they were very involved in minor hockey. Pham was on the league’s executive and all three boys played on different teams.
At the time of the shooting Pham was stationed with the Huron County detachment, but Pham’s OPP career began closer to the Highlands.
West Parry Sound OPP detachment commander staff sergeant Ron Campbell says Pham started his career at the detachment in 1995. Pham served that community for three years before he was transferred to the Cochrane detachment.
“It’s a really sad situation,” said Campbell of news of Pham’s shooting. “Many of the members remember Vu quite well. It’s always sad when a fellow officer dies, but especially so when you can put a face to a name or had a friendship. . . It hits a little closer to home.
“Vu was a very well-liked member of our detachment. He was a very polite young man,” said Campbell.
While details of funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed, Campbell said he expects a strong contingent of West Parry Sound officers to attend.
“It shows what a small world it is,” said Campbell.
On Monday, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said of Pham’s death in the line of duty: “Together with all Ontarians, I was sad to hear of the death of OPP constable Vu Pham. Every day, our police officers serve our families by keeping our communities safe and upholding the rule of law.
“Today, we are reminded that our safety and security sometimes comes at a high price.
“As a husband and a father I cannot imagine the pain Constable Pham’s family must be feeling. As Premier, I want to convey the condolences of 13 million Ontarians who honour his service and his life.”
Pham is survived by his family, his mother Men Nguyen of California, parents Dan and Terry, siblings Huy and Julie Pham of California, Mike and Heather Thompson of Sundridge, Christina and Troy Hurrell of Trout Creek, Bryan and Jenn Thompson of Sundridge.
An Ontario Provincial Police Funeral will be held at North Huron Wescast Community Complex on Friday at 1 p.m.