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Investigators look over the scene of a shooting Monday between Ontario Provincial Police Const. Vu Pham and a motorist he was attempting to stop north of London. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

Flags were flying at half-mast across Ontario on Tuesday as investigators piece together the circumstances surrounding the death of a provincial police officer after a shootout with an elderly man north of London.

Const. Vu Pham, a 15-year veteran of the Ontario Provincial Police, died in hospital on Monday. He had been shot during an exchange of gunfire after he pulled over a pickup near the community of Seaforth.

OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said the loss of a fellow officer is being felt across the province and the incident is a reminder of the potential risk police face every day.

“Const. Pham is just one of those heroes,” he said.

Police were called at 10:18 a.m. to the North Line in Huron County, Fantino said. The officer attempted to stop a vehicle, and was confronted by an armed man.

Suspect in critical condition

The province’s Special Investigations Unit said two other officers were on the scene with Pham at the time of the shooting. After Pham was shot, the suspect and officers were involved in a shootout, and witnesses said as many as 20 shots were fired during the exchange of gunfire.

Const. Vu Pham, 37, was fatally shot Monday near Seaforth, Ont. (OPP/Canadian Press)

OPP Deputy Commissioner Chris Lewis could not give any information on the suspect, except that he is a 70-year-ancient man who is not from the area but had reason to be there.

The SIU confirmed on Tuesday the man was from the North Bay area, but did not reveal his name.

The suspect remains in critical condition, the SIU said. Lewis said Monday morning the suspect was shot multiple times in the exchange.

The SIU and the OPP’s criminal investigation branch are investigating. The SIU investigates cases of serious injury or death involving police and civilians. The unit has sent six investigators and three forensic investigators to the scene. They are looking into witness accounts and are asking people with information to call 1-800-622-2342.

Active member of community

Police officials said Pham, a father of three, was both a valued colleague and a dedicated member of his community.

Sgt. Dave Rektor says the force has lost a “excellent friend, a fantastic colleague [and] a very excellent officer.”

Born in Vietnam, Pham lived in Wingham, Ont., with his wife Heather and three sons, Tyler, 12, Jordan, 10, and Joshua, 7. His wife and children were with him when he died.

Colleagues said he was active in his community and acted as a deacon at the local church, coached youth soccer and was involved in minor hockey.

Family friend Stephanie Houghton described Pham as a private person who was fun to be around and deeply devoted to his family.

Devoted to family

“He did everything for his family. His wife Heather and his kids came first,” said Houghton, whose family shared weekends and summer vacations together with Pham’s family.

(CBC)

“He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he always had his boys with him doing outdoor things with them. They were involved in hockey and soccer and whenever you saw them, they were always together,” she said.

Houghton said Pham’s wife was still in shock and that the community was rallying around the family to offer support.

“He is just a very dear man, a very dear friend, devoted husband and father, and an incredible person, and we’re going to miss him terribly,” said Houghton.

Pham worked out of the Huron County detachment and had previously served in the Cochrane and West Parry Sound detachments.

With the latest death, 104 OPP officers have been killed in the line of duty since the force was established in 1909.

Under the Criminal Code, the killing of a police officer is considered first-degree murder regardless of whether it was plotted or deliberate. First-degree murder carries a life sentence on conviction with no chance of parole for 25 years.

With files from The Canadian Press