Man Shot By Worcester Officer Made 'Furtive' Movements, DA Says

WORCESTER, MA — A 90-minute standoff ended early Wednesday morning when a Worcester police officer shot and killed a 31-year-old man, who authorities said was carrying a handgun and threatened to detonate a bomb.

The incident began around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday after a 911 call reporting a man possibly armed with a bomb and a gun along Grafton Street. The victim, identified Wednesday morning as Phet Gouvonvong, spoke with a 911 dispatcher for about 30 minutes, and was speaking with police negotiators before he was shot.

Meanwhile, the Worcester police SWAT team responded the area, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

Shooting broke out just after midnight, Early said, when Gouvonvong became "more agitated" and made "furtive" movements toward police. Early said multiple times at a news conference Wednesday that Gouvonvong "appeared" to have an assault rifle, but would only confirm that he was found with a handgun. Gouvonvong died at the scene.

Gouvonvong was wearing a vest made to look like a bomb, but was fake, MassLive reported.

Mayor Joseph Petty, Chief Steven Sargent and City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. offered condolences to Gouvonvong’s family in separate statements Wednesday night.

“The incident that unfolded on Grafton Street last night and this morning was tragic, and will have a lasting impact on the members of the Worcester Police Department and our community at large,” Augustus said. “I offer my sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Gouvonvong, and am devastated for all involved. As the investigation continues, I ask for everyone to keep our officers and Mr. Gouvonvong’s family in their thoughts and prayers.”

The officer who shot Gouvonvong was placed on administrative leave.

Worcester police have not used deadly force since 2015, when Wilmer Delgado-Soba, of Fitchburg, died at a hospital after police used a Taser on him. In 1993, Cristino Hernandez was beaten by two Worcester officers and died several days later.

Worcester was one of two U.S. cities to report deadly police shootings following a verdict in the trial of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on Tuesday. Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, was shot and killed by police in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday afternoon.

Gouvonvong is the third Worcester County man to be shot and killed by police within the last two years. In April 2020, a Milford police officer shot and killed a man who was holding a pipe. Westborough police shot and killed a man during a domestic violence incident in 2019.

Early's office cleared the Milford shooting as justified. Westborough Sgt. Jon Kalagher was given an award by Early's office.

Worcester police asked any witnesses who took cell phone video of the incident to contact investigators at (508) 799-8466.