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A 29-year-old Modesto man has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the execution-style murders of three people at a market in 2011, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office said. Chris Douangham received three life sentences without the possibility of parole and a 50-year to life sentence for gun use enhancements.A jury convicted Douangham in the killings of Vanh Thammavongsa, his wife Phouvieng Thammavongsa and their daughter Nancy Thammavongsa during a botched robbery of the victims’ family market in Modesto.Douangham and two other suspects were accused of entering the V & V Market on Yosemite Boulevard while armed with a firearm on Jan. 25, 2011.Vanh Thammavongsa was shot in the neck and 28-year-old Nancy Thammavongsa was shot in the head. Upon seeing her husband and daughter killed, Phovieng Thammavongsa ran from her attackers. The suspects gave chase and shot her multiple times as she tried to run for safety, the DA’s office said. After stealing money and merchandise from the market, Douangham and the other suspects fled the area.During Douangham’s sentencing hearing, the victim’s family members gave emotional impact statements about the crime and how it has changed their lives. The two other suspects were previously convicted for these crimes and were given life sentences. One of the suspects has already been released from custody, despite being sentenced to three life sentences due to changes in California law that substantially shorten sentences of suspects under 18 years of age who have been convicted of violent crimes, the DA’s office said. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
MODESTO, Calif. —
A 29-year-old Modesto man has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the execution-style murders of three people at a market in 2011, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office said.
Chris Douangham received three life sentences without the possibility of parole and a 50-year to life sentence for gun use enhancements.
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A jury convicted Douangham in the killings of Vanh Thammavongsa, his wife Phouvieng Thammavongsa and their daughter Nancy Thammavongsa during a botched robbery of the victims’ family market in Modesto.
Douangham and two other suspects were accused of entering the V & V Market on Yosemite Boulevard while armed with a firearm on Jan. 25, 2011.
Vanh Thammavongsa was shot in the neck and 28-year-old Nancy Thammavongsa was shot in the head.
Upon seeing her husband and daughter killed, Phovieng Thammavongsa ran from her attackers. The suspects gave chase and shot her multiple times as she tried to run for safety, the DA’s office said.
After stealing money and merchandise from the market, Douangham and the other suspects fled the area.
During Douangham’s sentencing hearing, the victim’s family members gave emotional impact statements about the crime and how it has changed their lives.
The two other suspects were previously convicted for these crimes and were given life sentences.
One of the suspects has already been released from custody, despite being sentenced to three life sentences due to changes in California law that substantially shorten sentences of suspects under 18 years of age who have been convicted of violent crimes, the DA’s office said.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
(source)