Victims chase car thieves while suspects fire shots in wild chase – 6 arrested

MODESTO – What began as an auto theft led to a shooting car chase and neighborhood manhunt resulting in 6 arrests.

At 3:43 a.m. Thursday a South Modesto resident heard the sounds of someone breaking into his car. As he ran outside, two men drove off in his Honda hatchback while two others fled in a Chevrolet Cavalier. The victim and his brother gave chase in another car, and called 911, updating the dispatchers of their location and direction. The suspects then began shooting at the trailing car during the chase. The two men were not hit, and they continued to follow.

The chase wound up on Northbound Highway 99, eventually exiting on Pelandale Avenue, and onto Sisk Road, where the suspects abandoned the stolen car and continued on in their Cavalier. The four men pulled into the Target parking lot on Sisk, where they abandoned the Cavalier and fled on foot into the neighborhood behind Target, as Police arrived on the scene.

Police established a perimeter around the neighborhood. Modesto Police, County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Sheriff’s helicopter, and Police dogs all joined the yard-to-yard search. The suspects were located by the K-9 team at 5:37 a.m., and taken into custody. John Thongrafamy, Bobby Phommachanh, Mathew Bossana and Lee Marvin Nelson II were arrested for carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft and conspiracy.

Prior to their arrest, the suspects had called two women to help them escape, and police arrested Roeth Kheav and Vannabovathong Souksavanh as accessories to the crimes. All suspects are from Stockton and in their 20’s.

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