The Oklahoman

Student is thankful for support after family loss

$54K-plus raised after double murder-suicide

- Jessie Christophe­r Smith

As details emerge from the double murder-suicide of a family in Oklahoma City, a fundraiser to help the surviving son has already exceeded its goal.

Phung Tran, a 21-year-old mechanical engineerin­g student at the University of Oklahoma, lost his mother, father and brother on the morning of Aug. 21 in northwest Oklahoma City.

As of Tuesday, a GoFundMe account had raised more than $54,000 in donations for Phung Tran, more than doubling its $25,000 goal.

“This unfortunat­e event has forced Phung to take on the financial duties of his family’s mortgage payments, funeral costs, legal costs, as well as other expenses related to the loss of his family,” reads the GoFundMe, organized by Phung’s fraternity brothers John Bui and Nelson Tran, who is not related to Phung Tran.

In a statement shared with The Oklahoman, Phung said he was “truly thankful and very appreciati­ve” of his fraternity brothers for organizing the GoFundMe and to every person who has donated.

“Although my immediate family is tragically gone, it’s comforting to know that I have a secondary family through you guys to support me through everything,” Phung said. “The love and support I have been receiving is overwhelmi­ng to say the least, but I’m just grateful for everyone.”

Kenny Tran, Phung’s 19-year-old brother, died of suicide about 5 a.m. that Saturday in late August, police said. Later that morning, police found Kim Nguyen and Van Tran, Phung’s and Kenny’s parents, stabbed to death in their home at 2919 NW 32.

“This is a couple who were married, they divorced and now they’re living together again,” said Sgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Kenny Tran killed his parents and then jumped off Scissortai­l Bridge, killing himself, Knight continued.

What no one is sure of is why. “We’ll never know the motive on that,” Knight said. “He didn’t leave a note or anything like that. We’re never going to know why he did what he did.”

Phung Tran was at OU when a detective told him of his family’s death.

“Phung is a brother to me,” wrote Nelson Tran, Phung’s best friend. “All he cares about is his family and taking care of them. Seeing him go through this breaks my heart and it’s just so wrong if he has to worry beyond the emotional toll. I do not want to see him worry any longer but rather, focus on healing.”

According to the GoFundMe, Kim Nguyen was a factory line worker and Van Tran worked at an Asian bistro. Kenny had recently graduated high school.

Phung is in his senior year at college and juggles maintainin­g a high GPA along with multiple jobs and his current position as president of the OU chapter of Lambda Phi Epsilon.

“Losing one family member is already hard on its own, but to lose three of his family members is unimaginab­le,” wrote Chris Jeon, Phung’s fraternity mentor.

“Seeing how he has been after the incident I am proud to see that he has been staying strong and still determined to finish college. That just shows how motivated Phung is to continue his legacy and to fulfill his mother’s dream.”

 ?? GOFUNDME ?? Phung Tran, 21, is a mechanical engineerin­g student at the University of Oklahoma.
GOFUNDME Phung Tran, 21, is a mechanical engineerin­g student at the University of Oklahoma.

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