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Next-door neighbor Jacob Khaoone, 18, said he was cleaning his kitchen when the shots were fired. He said he didn't hear the police officers announce themselves. But after the shots were fired, he said he heard one of the officers say, "I can't believe I just shot someone right now."
"There wasn't no arguing or nothing," Khaoone said. "The cops, they're lying about the argument. They didn't even say Merced PD or nothing. My window right here, it was open. If they would have said 'Merced PD,' everyone there, they would have just stopped what they were doing. But the cops didn't do that. And plus they didn't have their spotlight on."
Thao's sister, Mai Thao, drove to Merced from Fremont for the protest and said the family was upset that they learned from news reports about her brother's death. They want to know why police hadn't contacted them.
"That's devastating, considering that we've been looking for him, calling hospitals, calling the jailhouse, calling anywhere he might be. So right now our question is, what happened? We don't know."
Xiong, the man police say was holding a gun, was shot in the leg. He was taken to a Modesto hospital and is being held by law enforcement. An unidentified 17-year-old was also struck in the leg. He was taken to Mercy Medical Center Merced.
In a news release, the department called Xiong a "validated gang member." The statement said he was arrested and charged with "assault with a deadly weapon, participation in a criminal street gang, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of ammunition by a person prohibited from possessing a firearm."
Police said they have the gun Xiong was holding. Lt. Bimley West said the matter is being looked at by Internal Affairs. He said the department doesn't notify families in the event of a death, saying that is up to the coroner or the Sheriff's Department.
Reporter Joshua Emerson Smith can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or jsmith@mercedsunstar.com.
