Another correctional officer fired several shots at Vang, who then retreated into a hallway before ultimately dropping his weapon and saying that he wanted to be arrested, Mims said. She was one of two unarmed officers critically injured after a man opened fire in the main lobby of the. Photo from Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Latest on a shooting inside a central California jail that wounded two officers (all times local): 9:45 a.m. Authorities have booked into jail an ex-convict accused of shooting and wounding two unarmed officers inside a central California jail. “I just couldn’t believe this was happening”, Rodriguez told the Bee.
The incident started when suspect Thong Vang, who was visiting someone at the jail, entered the lobby, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.
During the confrontation that ensued, Vang pulled out a gun and shot correctional officers Juanita Davila and Toamalama Scanlan, neither of whom were armed, Mims said.
The Sheriff’s Office said that at around 8:30 a.m. on September 3, known gang member Thong Vang, 37, of Fresno, entered the lobby, took out a handgun and shot Juanita Davila and Toamalama Scanlan in the head and neck areas.
The jail’s policy is that they do not arm the officers working in the facility. He says the jail lobby is closed but may reopen later in the day. He was placed on a parole hold, Botti said.
Vang served 16 years in prison after pleading guilty in 1998 to the gang-rape of three young girls. The parolee had no criminal violations since his release. Davila, who has 18 years of experience, was listed in critical but stable condition, Botti said. Vang then pulled a handgun and shot Davila and Scanlan, who have almost three decades of experience between them.
The officers were trying to get him to sit down when shots rang out. Officers from the secured areas inside the jail ran to the lobby, where a lieutenant fired shots at the gunman, identified as 37-year-old Thong Vang, who was taken into custody. When he was ordered to wait his turn, Vang began to exhibit “bizarre behavior”, pacing back and forth around the lobby, Mims said. No one was hit.
Botti says the lobby of the Fresno County jail is guarded by unarmed officers and visitors go through metal detectors leading to secure areas. The officers remained hospitalized on Sunday.
Deputies detained Vang and took him to a hospital with minor scrapes and cuts.
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At some point, officers used a Taser on Vang, but they were still unable to get him to surrender, according to the statement.
