DPS Releases Suspects’ Names
2 County Deputies Involved in Shooting
More stories from Leslie Germany
The names of two suspects involved in an officer-involved shooting incident with deputies from the Carson County Sheriff’s Department have been released. The deputies were placed on administrative leave with pay. “We place officers on three days paid administrative leave as per our policy for any officer involved shootings,” Brand said. “We have to cover the shifts with our existing officers when an officer(s) is on leave.”
The Department of Public Safety has released the names of 41-year-old Yia Lee and 30-year-old Phan Toyad, both of Sacramento, Calif., who were the suspects detained when an officer-involved shooting occurred Feb. 3 at approximately 3:43 a.m. at the DPS office on the west side of Panhandle.
According to reports from ABC 7, South Plains Forensics in Lubbock claimed Lee’s body and will perform the autopsy. Toyad was not charged.
“The suspect produced a handgun and fired at the deputies, and the deputies returned fire,” Sheriff Loren Brand posted on his office’s official Facebook page. “The suspect sustained gunshot wounds.”
Two Carson County deputies were arresting the suspect and his associate for possession of marijuana.
“Neither officer was injured,” Brand stated.
In following regular sheriff’s department procedures, the deputies will be placed on administrative leave with pay.
“We place officers on three days paid administrative leave as per our policy for any officer involved shootings,” Brand said. “We have to cover the shifts with our existing officers when an officer(s) is on leave.”
The investigation of the shooting is being conducted by the Texas Rangers.
“I can’t make any additional statements or have any press releases from me until the Texas Rangers have completed their investigation,” Brand said. “After that, I’ll be happy to answer any questions.”
Jenny • May 20, 2017 at 4:47 am
Whatever happened with this case? One dead and one released and that’s it? I’m still wondering how the suspect was able to produce a handgun in DPS office. No one’s talking and it seemed like this story will just just vanish and no ones going to question what really happened
adviser • May 22, 2017 at 8:30 am
Jenny, Thank you for your question. Actually, too, this article was created by student journalists. Our paper will attempt to do an update, but all of the students now are on summer break. Follow-up articles are an important part of journalism education, and the students will be working on one next semester. Thank you for honoring our student journalists by reading their work.