Full Notification

Modesto, CA- Modesto Police detectives arrest three known gang members in the triple shooting of a Modesto family that left two dead and one in critical condition.

On Tuesday January 25, 2011 at about 1:55 pm, Modesto Police officers responded to the V & V Oriental Market, located at 1320 Yosemite Boulevard in southeast Modesto, for a report of a person bleeding in the store. When officers arrived they located three victims who appeared to have been shot.

A 55-year-old male victim, who was the owner of the store, was pronounced deceased at the scene, while his 49-year-old wife and 28-year-old daughter were transported to nearby hospitals. The wife later died at the hospital. The daughter remains in critical condition on full life support. The names of the victims will not be released until their identities are confirmed and next of kin is notified.

Witnesses were able to provide officers with information on a suspect vehicle that was seen leaving the business after the shooting. The description of this vehicle was broadcasted to allied agencies within Stanislaus County. Approximately a half hour after the shooting, a Ceres Police officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle, in the area of Hatch Road and Mitchell Avenue. Officers were able to stop the suspect vehicle and detain three individuals from the suspect vehicle. The three individuals detained were two juvenile Asian males and one adult Asian male.

Investigators believe the vehicle Ceres Police stopped is the suspect vehicle identified by witnesses at the scene and detectives spent the night interviewing the occupants to determine their involvement in the shooting.

Late last night, homicide investigators arrested the three suspects and charged them with murder. Oloth Phommahaxay, who is an 18-year-old and two juvenile males, one 16-year-old and the other 15-year-old, were all arrested for two counts of Murder, one count of Attempted Murder, and Gang Enhancement. All three are Modesto residents.

Detectives are still working on determining a motive for the shooting.

Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to call Detective Dale Lingerfelt at (209) 572-9537 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers by sending a text message to 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message.