WESTMINSTER : Man Held in Fatal Shooting of His Wife

Police arrested a Westminster man Thursday on suspicion of fatally shooting his wife a day before her 18th birthday.

Ha Phuong was shot in the head about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at a house in the 8100 block of 18th Street, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Phoung’s husband, Hao Pham, 20, was arrested after police interviewed him and other residents of the house. Pham is being held without bail at County Jail, police said.

There still is a chance that Phoung’s death might be ruled accidental, said police, who initially had problems interviewing witnesses because of a language barrier.

A .22-caliber rifle believed to have been used in the slaying was found at the house, police said.

Neighbors said they had seen people at the house holding and firing rifles before. “The police came out there one time after we heard about nine shots coming from that place,” a neighbor said. “I think they were fired in the air.”