Milpitas father killed wife, 2 kids before turning gun on himself: police

MILPITAS, Calif. - Four people were found dead in a Milpitas apartment after a man shot his wife and two children before turning the gun on himself, police said Thursday.

Milpitas Lt. Tyler Jamison identified the family as Vinh Quang Nguyen, 36; his wife, Chau Bao "Becky" Pham, 36; and their 9-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. Jamison said it appears Nguyen carried out the killings with a handgun that was legally registered to him.

All four died from a single gunshot wound in the apparent murder-suicide.

Jamison said it appears the killings happened Saturday at the Turing Apartments on McCandless Drive. The bodies were discovered Tuesday around 9 p.m. after a welfare check.

Authorities said family members grew concerned after being unable to reach their loved ones, which was out of the ordinary. Jamison said the family normally spoke to relatives every two to three days.

Jamison said Milpitas police had no prior contact with the family.

Investigators are probing what led Nguyen to carry out the killings before taking his own life.