Shooting Victim’s Sons Blocked Gunman’s Suicide, Police Say

A Canoga Park man shot his girlfriend in the head but was stopped by the woman’s two children when he tried to turn the gun on himself, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

Em Ngoc Nguyen, 28, was charged Tuesday with one count each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in the June 24 shooting of his girlfriend, Mai Nguyen. He is to be arraigned today on the charges, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond.

Detective Phil Quartararo said Em Nguyen shot Mai Nguyen at the Canoga Park apartment they shared after an argument.

Em Nguyen asked the victim if she wanted to die and if she wanted the two of them to die together, authorities said. He then shot her once in the head with a .22-caliber pistol, Diamond said.

Then he put the gun to his head, Diamond said. Before he could pull the trigger, Mai Nguyen’s sons, 11 and 12 years old, grabbed the gun away from him, Diamond said. Nguyen was arrested that night by Los Angeles police.

Mai Nguyen was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, then transferred to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where she underwent surgery for a bullet lodged in her ear and neck, Diamond said. She may be permanently paralyzed as a result of the shooting, he said.

Em Nguyen was to be arraigned on the charges Wednesday in Van Nuys Municipal Court, but the hearing was delayed so that officials could arrange for a Vietnamese translator to be present.

Em Nguyen remains in County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.