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31-Year-Old Worcester Man Shot by Police after Bomb Threat

By TWIW Staff | April 22, 2021
Last Updated: July 8, 2021

WORCESTER – A 31-year-old Worcester man was identified by Worcester County District Attorney Joe Early, Jr. as the man shot by police early in the morning of Wednesday, April 21.

Early announced in a press conference late Wednesday morning that police shot and killed Phet Gouvonvong on Grafton Street after midnight.

According to Early, a call came into 9-1-1 at 10:40 PM on Tuesday, April 20, from Gouvonvong who claimed he had a bomb and planted another in the city.

The emergency dispatcher who answered the call kept the man on the phone around 30 minutes.

When police arrived on Grafton St. they found Gouvonvong in possession of a handgun, rounds of ammuntion, and what appeared to be an assault rifle and carrying what appeared to be an explosive device. He was wearing body armor and a backpack which had wires sticking out of it.

Police created a perimeter and established contact with Gouvonvong. Early said Gouvonvong grew irritated and that “furtive movements” towards the officers led to several shots fired and Gouvonvong’s death.

Early said the investigation is in its early stages. Investigators entered Gouvonvong’s residence around 11 AM on Wednesday.

Early said that investigators had no evidence that substantiated Gouvonvong’s claims of a bomb planted in the city and there is no known threat to the public.

The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad is part of the investigation. Early did not have information if the device in Gouvonvong’s possession was operational.

As previously reported, the State Police Bomb Squad was on the scene where Gouvonvong was shot early on Wednesday, but reportedly left by 5 AM.

Grafton Street was closed until 8 AM Wednesday morning as investigators processed the scene.

The Worcester Police Department is asking anyone with information to call the Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651, send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD or send an anonymous message online at worcesterma.gov/police.

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