UPDATE: Corrections Officers Juanita Davila And Toamalama Scanlan In Critical Condition After Shooting

Corrections Officers Juanita Davila And Toamalama Scanlan are both in critical condition after they were shot at the Fresno County Jail.

UPDATE: Corrections Officers Juanita Davila And Toamalama Scanlan In Critical Condition After Shooting

An update from the Sheriff on the heroes who were shot today:

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 is scheduled to be booked into the Fresno County Jail on felony charges, which will include attempted murder.

All Sheriff’s employees and civilian witnesses are being interviewed by our detectives. This remains an ongoing investigation.

This POS, Thong Vang, only received minor scrapes when he shot two heroes in the neck and head.

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.