Truyen The Pham, 23

Houston, Texas
January 05, 2003

Agencies: Harris County Sheriff's Office Texas | Houston Police Department Texas

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

a/m, 23, shot four times (including several shots in the back) and killed by Precinct 6 constable Cpl. Freddie Castillo, a 10-yr. veteran. Police claim Pham fired a gun into a group outside a club, refused to drop the gun and pointed it at deputy constable Danny Avalos; that’s when Castillo shot him. However, at least three civilian witnesses, one of whom was wounded in the foot by one of the gunman’s shots, said that Pham and another man tried to protect them and tackled the gunman and when Pham stood up "the cop fired at him…without any kind of warning…I saw Truyen laying there, gasping for air…And they just left him there." Two of the witnesses said the gunman was taken into custody but was later let go by police. Another witness said Pham was trying to get to his feet when he was shot in the back. Test results to determine if there was gunpowder on Pham’s hands were inconclusive. Castillo was no-billed by a grand jury. Pham is the 2nd person known to have been shot to death this year by Harris County police officers.