Corning teen victim unable to shed light on shooting

Corning police said the recent interview with 18-year-old shooting victim Billy Thamvongkham at Enloe Medical Center in Chico did not produce any new leads.

"Billy (Thamvongkham) said he didn't know who shot him, that he was just sitting on his couch when someone broke in a started shooting," Chief Don Atkins said. The interview was on Jan. 25.

Thamvongkham was shot twice in the back on Jan. 22 in his upstairs apartment on South Street.

One of the bullets struck Thamvongkham in the pelvis and the other at the spine, Atkins said.

The chief said there have been unsubstantiated rumors the teen may be paralyzed.

Enloe Medical Center is no longer releasing any information on Thamvongkham or his condition per request of the family.

Police believe the shooting may have been gang related.

Following the 11:30 p.m. shooting, witnesses told police they heard yelling and then gunshots.

"When we arrived, we found the victim laying on the floor with two gunshots wounds in the back," Atkins said.

Police believe the victim was alone when the shooting occurred, but are uncertain how many people may have been involved in the shooting.

"We found no bullet casings at the scene and we don't know yet the caliber of the gun used in the shooting," the chief said.

While searching Thamvongkham's vehicle parked near the apartment, police discovered a .22-caliber casing on the floorboard in the back seat and a police-style baton under the driver's seat.

Police said they have had many contacts with Thamvongkham in the past.

The night Thamvongkham was shot, shots were fired in the alleyway behind Grant Street around 8 p.m.

"It that incident we found .45-caliber casings on the ground," Atkins said.

No one was injured in the Grant Street shooting, but witnesses said they saw a man dressed all in black with a ski mask over his face run down the alley and then shoot a handgun at a group of people in the backyard of a home.