Tung Thanh Danh,Tam Thanh Vo Gang members were sentenced to prison Monday for their involvement in the drive-by shooting death
Two gang members were sentenced to prison Monday for their involvement in the drive-by shooting death of a 19-year-old man in Linda Vista 15 months ago. Tung Thanh Danh, 20, and Tam Thanh Vo, 19, each pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and an allegation that the killing of Tien Phung was carried out for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Danh was sentenced to 16 years behind bars. Vo got 13 years in prison. Superior Court Judge Richard Whitney told the defendants they would live the rest of their lives knowing they had a hand in killing another human being.
"Your gang activity has now landed you in state prison," the judge said, calling the gang life "a dead-end road" and "a worthless activity." Whitney urged the defendants to do their time in prison and give up the gang life. "You've been given a break that this young victim was not given in this case," Whitney told the defendants. "You've got the opportunity that your victim wasn't given."
Police said Phung, who lived in San Carlos, was getting into a car after leaving a house party in the 6900 block of Eastman Street when an occupant of a passing pickup truck opened fire on him about 12:15 a.m. Nov. 26, 2006. A sedan then pulled up, and the driver said something to Phung before taking off. The victim died at a hospital the next day. It was unclear who actually fired the shots.