A mother is now facing first-degree murder charges after she was accused of fatally shooting her two sons inside their Bucks County, Pennsylvania home.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office has since revealed the upgraded charges for 38-year-old Trinh Nguyen as of today. Nguyen shot her two boys, Jeffrey “JT” Tini, 13, and Nelson Tini, 9, on May 2 inside their Upper Makefield Township home.
Mother Charged With First-Degree Murder After Fatally Shooting 2 Sons
In an updated criminal complaint, detectives from Bucks County and Upper Makefield Township say Nguyen planned the killing at least a week earlier and left behind a handwritten will, dated April 25, 2022, that instructs the recipient on what to do with her and her sons’ remains.
The D.A. and Council Rock School District announced the two brothers died at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from their injuries on Friday. Jeffrey attended eighth grade at Newtown Middle School, and Nelson attended third grade at Sol Feinstone Elementary.
“We are deeply saddened to lose two of our Council Rock students and will miss them greatly,” Susan Elliott, Acting Superintendent of Schools, said.
“This tragic event has shocked our Council Rock community. As a school community, we will continue to provide support for students, staff, and families as we cope with this horrific event. Our Crisis Response Team has continued to meet as this tragedy unfolds. The team has placed several counselors at the buildings the boys attended-Newtown Middle School and Sol Feinstone Elementary School. Those counselors are meeting with students, contacting parents, and supporting classroom teachers.”
Nguyen is also charged with trying to shoot and kill her 22-year-old neighbor, who is also the nephew of her ex-husband, the same day she allegedly shot her children. She reportedly handed him a box of photos to give to her ex-husband. Police stated that when he turned around to face Nguyen, he saw her pointing a black revolver at his face.
The neighbor then wrestled the gun away from Nguyen after it didn’t fire.
She then fled to Washington Crossing United Methodist Church where she was found inside her minivan. Nguyen was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center due to the indication that she was under the influence and has been in custody since then.
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“I have been praying for these boys and their surviving family for days,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “I am so sad to hear of their passing. This defendant’s murder of two of her sons is unconscionable and horrific. We will do what needs to be done to seek justice for all of them.”
During her arraignment later that day, Nguyen said she did not flee, according to officials. She also claimed to have traveled to New Jersey to obtain narcotics, which she ingested in an attempt to kill herself.
The complaint stated that she had not used drugs in the past.
Officials say a search warrant was executed on the minivan, and detectives located .38-caliber ammunition, several empty suspected heroin packages, several full suspected heroin packages, and swabs of suspected blood, among other evidence.
A note was located on the passenger-side dashboard, which read: “Please call 911! My children are dead in their bed [and the address of the home].”
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Detectives also served a search warrant at the Nguyen residence. Officials say they located the handwritten will, dated a week before the shooting. The will was signed, “Trinh Nguyen.”
In addition, officials say a .38-caliber Ruger revolver was located in the front of the neighbor’s home. Nguyen was in an ongoing dispute with her landlord about more than $11,000 in unpaid rent, according to court records. And on April 18, the judge issued an order informing Nguyen to move out of the home she shared with her children by May 3.
Elliott said several district and external supports will be in place at the schools on Monday. “We plan to have therapy dogs available at both schools to provide additional support,” Elliot said.