Elderly Ont. man charged in shooting death of OPP officer

SUNDRIDGE, Ont. — The Ontario Provincial Police have charged 70-year-old Fred Preston of Sundridge, Ont., with first-degree murder in the death of OPP Const. Vu Pham.

Preston also was charged with attempted murder in relation to a second officer. Preston remained in critical condition and in police custody in the London Health Sciences Centre-Victoria Campus in London, Ont., Wednesday evening.

On Monday, shortly after 10 a.m. ET, Pham responded to a call for service on North Line, Huron County, north of London. While stopping a vehicle, Pham was shot and fatally wounded as he exited his police cruiser.

A second OPP officer in proximity, located the suspect, who was shot during the encounter after firing at the officer.

"The tragic death of provincial Const. Pham has impacted us all and our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. I am proud of the response by our members to this incident and that charges have been brought," said OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino.

The province's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is conducting a parallel investigation into the circumstances surrounding the injuries sustained by Preston.

Meanwhile, as Pham's family was preparing for his funeral Friday, Preston's family was still reeling from the news the former politician, described as a loving father, is the suspect in the dramatic southern Ontario shootout earlier this week.

Police allege Preston shot Pham, a father of three, when the 15-year police veteran pulled over the white pickup truck Preston was driving Monday in Leadbury, Ont., about 90 kilometres north of London.

Preston, 70, grew up in the small village of 1,000 located in central Ontario.

He remained in critical condition late Wednesday at the London Health Services Centre, with a bullet lodged in his brain, according to his family.

"I've given it a lot of thought — sitting in the bush all morning — lots of time to think," said his brother, Clark Preston, 72. "We never expected anything like this."

Preston was allegedly shot at least four times by responding officers, said his family. Two bullets were removed from his stomach, one from his thigh and the one that went into his brain has left him in a coma and on life-support.

"You can take this to the bank — I don't believe for one minute, he intended to kill that police officer," Clark Preston said.

"We're kind of independent in this country — and when we have trouble — for instance with our family or what — just leave us alone. I think it was just a 'leave-us-alone' shot," he said.

Fred Preston's three grown daughters, Cindy, Penny and Ann, were on their way to see their father Wednesday. His estranged wife, Barb, was believed to be living in North Bay, Ont., following the couple's recent separation.

The two were married for 52 years and lived for 20 years in a two-storey white house on Forest Lake Road that Preston had built.

He had also built a second house on the lot for his daughter Cindy and her husband.

He had moved into the basement apartment of the second house following the separation. No one answered the door of the Preston home Wednesday.

"He's an easygoing guy, very peaceful," said Gil Chartrand, Preston's neighbour of 21 years.

Preston, a logger and construction worker, was the youngest of seven boys and one girl. The family, originally from Newmarket, Ont., had lived in Sundridge for nearly 60 years. Three of the brothers lived on the same road as Preston, who was the reeve — or elected leader — of the nearby Township of Joly until he lost his seat five years ago.

His family said it believes Preston was in Leadbury to visit his wife's sister and her husband.

Preston also became well-known for his wood carving ability and the art he created in the form of large bears and horses.

Meanwhile, residents in the community of Sundridge, were shocked Wednesday that Preston, described as a law-abiding citizen who respected the police, could have been involved in this kind of altercation.

"I just about fell down when I heard (the news)," said Bob Basso, 63 at the local Blue Roof Restaurant where he regularly met Preston.

Basso said Preston was the type of man who would always lend a hand, especially with construction projects — because he was very skilled in masonry and carpentry.

Harold Hill, 86, saw Preston last Friday at the restaurant eating dinner. They exchanged pleasantries. Hill said "nothing seemed off" about him.

Hill described him as "a kind man, a big man, a quiet fella," adding "when I found out, I questioned if it was the Fred I knew." Hill said Preston was a member of the local Church of Christ and had attended regularly.

In what people in this village are calling a "strange coincidence," Pham also grew up in Sundridge but the two did not know each other.

Rev. Walter Winger, associate pastor at Knox Presbyterian Church in Sundridge, said: "It makes no sense whatsoever. It's big talk here."

Winger said Pham — born in Saigon in 1973 toward the end of the Vietnam War — moved to Sundridge and was befriended by a pastor at the town's Pentecostal Church.

Winger said the church had sponsored Pham as a nine-year-old refugee, and soon after the boy began living with an elderly couple who were members of the congregation. However, when the couple found it too difficult to look after the energetic child, a pastor, Dan Thompson, and his wife Terry, took him in.

The family remained in Sundridge for several years, and Pham eventually joined the OPP.

Pham's sister-in-law, Heather Thompson, who still lives in the village, says the last few days have been tough for the family.

She described Pham as a "wonderful family man" who enjoyed hunting, fishing and being outdoors.

Although they may have crossed paths, Thompson said her family did not know Preston, but were close with some of his relatives.

"We're friends with his family members, that's not going to change," she insisted.

The last time Thompson saw Pham was at a family Christmas party in nearby Trout Creek last November.

"He was quiet most of the time but had quite a humourous streak to him, too," she said, adding his faith was important to him. "That actually makes it a little easier to deal with the whole situation. We know where he's going."

Thompson said the outpouring of support since Pham's death has been overwhelming.

"The family does need privacy. It's nice that he's being honoured but we're grieving and it's hard for the family because every time we turn around there's . . . his face on the news," she said. "It's hard for the kids, it's hard for us."

Pham's relatives were beginning to gather in Wingham, Ont., with the officer's wife and three children.

Visitation services were scheduled for Thursday, with the funeral slated for Friday at 1 p.m.

With files from Mark McAllister, Global News