FRESNO, CA (KMJ) Thong Vang took the witness stand Thursday in his double attempted murder trial.
Vang testified that he got off work around 1am the day of the 2016 shooting which left two Fresno County corrections officers fighting for their lives. The Thai immigrant told the court that he and his girlfriend had been smoking meth through the night and he hadn’t slept.
Vang testified that he was being set up his girlfriend’s friends and thought he’d been hacked after his credit card was declined. He said carried a gun to protect himself.
Eventually, Vang ended up at Fresno PD headquarters, attempting to turn himself in – but the doors were locked for the weekend. Vang then detailed how he arrived at the jail and told staff he wanted to be arrested. Then things turned violent.
As officers arrived to calm the situation, Vang brandished his gun and shot out a window.
CO Juanita Davila was first to respond. She was shot in the face and seriously wounded. CO Malama Scanlan then ran at Vang, attempting to tackle him. Scanlan was shot in the head and critically wounded. He survived and is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation.
Vang then holed up in the jail records room.
“I only came here to get arrested,” Vang told the court.
Vang is facing numerous charges, including two counts of attempted murder. He’s facing more than 100 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
