9/12/16 - As of Monday afternoon both Officers Toamalama Scanlan and Juanita Davila remain in the hospital, however, we are happy to report they have both shown vast improvements in their health.
Officer Davila is now up and walking around, going through physical therapy. She appreciates all of the support and is in good spirits.
Officer Scanlan is showing more awareness. He is able to display facial expressions, emotions and has increased movement of his extremities.
A BBQ fundraiser is being held on Thursday (9/15) to benefit the officers and their families. Lunch is $7 per plate. There will also be a lemonade truck, kettlecorn and desserts from Cupcakes Bakery of Fresno available to purchase.
Thank you for your support!
9/6/16 - Two Veteran Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officers remain in the hospital, recovering from the injuries they received as a result of being shot.
Juanita Davila is listed in critical, but stable condition and she is able to communicate to her family by writing and texting. Toamalama (Twah-Ma-Llama) Scanlan is listed in critical condition and has exhibited movement of his limbs when directed by medical staff. He can hear and recognizes the voices of his family. He responds to them through subtle movements of his hands and legs. Doctors remain hopeful he will recover, but nothing is certain.
The following is a detailed timeline of events according to Fresno County Sheriff’s Office detectives.
Around 8:15 am on Saturday, September 3rd, surveillance cameras positioned on Fresno city streets recorded images of the shooting suspect, 37 year old Thong Vang. The video showed Vang lingering around the front doors of Fresno Police headquarters. He tried to enter the lobby, but the doors were locked due to the office being closed. A short time later, he is seen leaving PD headquarters and walking toward the Fresno County Jail located at 1225 M Street.
At 8:30 am, Vang entered the lobby of the main jail. At this time, the lobby was filled with about 15 visitors, including small children. Vang paced back and forth for several minutes before walking up to the correctional officer working at the desk, where he told the officer he wanted to be arrested. Vang then got close to a metal detector that leads to a secure area of the jail, so the officer at the desk asked for assistance from other correctional officers to escort Vang out of the lobby. Correctional Officer Juanita Davila walked out of the records area and asked Vang to leave. Vang refused to listen to Officer Davila and got into a struggle with her. Additional officers were called in from secured areas of the jail to assist. During their response to the lobby, Vang pulled a handgun out of his clothing and fired a shot that broke the glass window on the records area hallway door. Vang fired another bullet, which struck Davila in the face. Additional radio calls were made that shots had been fired in the lobby. A responding correctional officer deployed his Taser on Vang, but it was ineffective in getting him to surrender. As Correctional Officer Toamalama Scanlan approached and fired his Taser at Vang, Vang simultaneously fired his gun and struck Scanlan in his head. A lieutenatant correctional officer, responding from upstairs with his handgun, confronted Vang 40 seconds after the initial gunfire. The lieutenant and Vang exchanged gun shots, but neither were struck. Using his hands, Vang cleared the glass to the broken window of the records door and jumped through the opening to take cover in a hallway.
Responding Sheriff’s deputies and Fresno Police officers staged outside the jail and created an entry plan. Once deputies saw an officer down in the lobby, they made the decision to enter and conduct a rescue operation. Deputies entered the jail lobby and were followed by police officers. As they held Vang at gunpoint and ordered him to drop his weapon. Vang did so and deputies began to drag both officers Scanalan and Davila outside to ambulances waiting on the street. Vang conveyed to officers he was giving up and wanted to be arrested. Deputies took Vang into custody and he was transported to the hospital for minor scrapes and cuts.
Detectives later interviewed Vang and then booked him into the Fresno County Jail on felony charges, which include attempted murder, bringing a gun into the jail and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is also the subject of a parole hold and an immigration detainer.
The investigation has revealed Vang had a cell phone on him prior to his arrest, but deputies did not recover it. Vang claims he set it down outside the jail lobby. If someone picked up the phone or knows of its whereabouts, detectives ask that you turn it in to either the jail or Sheriff’s Headquarters. This can be handled on an anonymous, no questions asked basis.
We have been receiving requests locally and throughout the country about donations to help the injured correctional officers and their families as they work toward recovery.
Those wishing to write a check may make it payable to: Fresno Deputy Sheriff's Association. In the memo column, please write: Injured officers fund. Checks can be mailed to:
FDSA
1360 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93721
Donations of other items may be brought to FDSA Headquarters. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a drop off time, please call FDSA President Eric Schmidt at (559) 281-8784.
The FDSA has also established an online “Go Fund Me” account. https://www.gofundme.com/injuredofficerfund
9/4/16 - Our injured correctional officers remain hospitalized. Officer Juanita Davila continues to be listed in critical, but stable condition. Officer Toamalama Scanlan continues to be listed in critical condition. Many have asked how they can help our injured officers and their families. Please visit the following link to a GoFundMe page that's been established. Thank you for your continued support and prayers. https://www.gofundme.com/injuredofficerfund
On Sunday evening, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office reopened the main lobby of the Fresno County Jail to the public, allowing folks to visit inmates and access other services.
9/3/16 - Two veteran Correctional Officers of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office are in the hospital after being shot in the head and neck areas.
Juanita Davila, who has 18 years of experience, is listed in critical, but stable condition. Toamalama Scanlan, who has 10 years of experience, is listed in critical condition.
The suspect who has been arrested is 37 year old Thong Vang of Fresno. He is a known gang member who is a sex registrant and parolee. In 1998, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison on multiple rapes charges involving teenagers aged 14 and under. He served 16 years of his time and was released on Sept. 4th, 2014. He has not had any criminal violations until today.
Shortly after 8:30 this morning, Thong Vang entered the main lobby of the Fresno County Jail. At this time, the lobby was filled with about 15 visitors, including small children. Vang tried to cut to the front of the visitation line, but a correctional officer working at the front desk told him to wait his turn. He then began to show signs of bizarre behavior by pacing back and forth next to a metal detector that leads to a secure area of the jail. Correctional officers Juanita Davila and Toamalama Scanlan then approached Vang and also told him to take a seat. He refused and a struggle ensued between Vang and the officers. During this time, Vang pulled a handgun out of his clothing and shot both Davila and Scanlan. The officer at the desk radioed for help and additional officers responded to the lobby from secured areas inside the jail. One of the responding correctional officers, a lieutenant, fired shots at Vang. Vang also returned shots, but no one was struck. At some point, officers deployed a Taser on Vang, but they were ineffective in getting him to surrender. Vang then ran to an unlocked door that led to the jail records area and stayed in the hallway. Responding Sheriff’s deputies and a Fresno Police officer entered the jail lobby and ordered the suspect to surrender. The suspect dropped his weapon and was held at gunpoint while other deputies rescued the two injured correctional officers by dragging them out of the lobby to ambulances waiting outside. Vang conveyed to officers he was giving up and wanted to be arrested. Deputies took Vang into custody and he was transported to the hospital for minor scrapes and cuts. He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on felony charges, including attempted murder, bringing drugs into the jail and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is also the subject of a parole hold and an immigration detainer.
All Sheriff’s employees and civilian witnesses are being interviewed by our detectives. This remains an ongoing investigation.
The Fresno County Jail will remain closed to visitors until further notice.
We have been receiving requests locally and throughout the country about donations to help the injured correctional officers and their families as they work toward recovery.
Those wishing to write a check may make it payable to: Fresno Deputy Sheriff's Association. In the memo column, please write: Injured officers fund. Checks can be mailed to:
FDSA
1360 Van Ness Avenue
Fresno, CA 93721
Donations of other items may be brought to FDSA Headquarters. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a drop off time, please call Eric Schmidt at (559) 281-8784.
If anyone has additional information about the suspect Thong Vang, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111.
