This afternoon at approximately 2:00 p.m. Sacramento Sheriff’s Detective Vu Nguyen and his partner were on a routine visit to a known gang house in South Sacramento near 41st Avenue and 37th Street. An unknown male standing in front of the house took off on foot as the Detectives approached. Nguyen and his partner gave chase. Nguyen followed the suspect over a fence into a backyard. Nguyen’s partner then heard gunshots and found Det. Nguyen down with a gunshot wound to the neck.

Detective Nguyen was life-flighted to UCD Med Center where he underwent surgery, but tragically succumbed to his injuries.

At this time a massive manhunt is underway for the suspect described as an Asian mail, 5’4”, 130-140 lbs, 20-30 years old.

Detective Nguyen was a 10-year veteran and had been with the gang unit for the past three years. At this point, immediate survivors are unknown. Further details, including funeral information will be forwarded as available.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to the death of Sacramento Sheriff’s Detective Uv Nguyen, Sheriff John McGinness announced Thursday morning Dec. 20, 2007.

“We’re confident that we got our guy,” McGinness said during a news conference, smiling as he broke the news.

The boy was arrested at 12:30 a.m. at a family member’s home in the Meadowview area on suspicion of murdering Nguyen on Wednesday. The boy is being held without bail in the county’s juvenile hall.

The shooting prompted a manhunt involving more than 100 police, sheriff’s detectives and federal agents that lasted through the night.