As the community reacts to that shocking shooting inside a central Fresno Family Health Care clinic, new details about the employee critically wounded, in what police believe to be a targeted attack.
A former staff member of the clinic, who asked us to conceal her identity, opening up about the victim.
She says she previously worked with the woman, believed to be in her 30’s.
“It came as heartbreaking for me that she had to go through this,” the former employee said.
In an interview exclusive to Action News, she spoke of the compassion the victim carried with her every day at the clinic.
“A nice woman. She really cared about her patients, she would try to do whatever she could, you know, to get them the things that they needed,” the former employee said.
The shooting happened Thursday morning, with more than four dozen people, employees and patients, inside,
Exclusive video obtained by Action News captured people running to safety as gunfire erupted.
Police say 69-year-old Bounlab Thammavong, a patient of the clinic, was the gunman, shooting the victim inside of an exam room before police arrested him on scene.
The former employee, still trying to wrap her head around what happened.
“I have no idea what you know would have motivated anything like that,” she said. “She had seen him before. That wasn’t their first meeting.”
And Saturday, the woman sharing heartbreaking new details with us.
Through former coworkers, she learned a male clinician rushed to the victim’s aid, moments after she was shot several times.
“I think about, you know, what he’s going through, what he’s living with, because that was his colleague, and that, you know, from the moment anybody is going to be, you know, walking into that place, it’s now completely changed,” the woman said.
Through it all, the former employee, remembering the victim as she was before this traumatic event and hoping she’ll return to her warm and caring self.
“I have, you know, a vision of her and at that time, still her fiancé, dancing together…” the former employee said. “And it’s just, it’s really hard, and it just absolutely breaks my heart for that family that they’re dealing with this.”
The victim is still in critical but stable condition at Community Regional Medical Center.
Action News reached out to Family Health Care Network but did not hear back.
Earlier this week, the network released the following statement:
“Family HealthCare Network’s Fresno Clinton health center experienced a tragic incident this morning that involved an active shooting. We are thankful to our team and the authorities who quickly responded to this situation. Our concern is to ensure our team members and patients are receiving the support needed to heal from this incident, and most importantly, our prayers are with our team member involved and their family,” stated Kerry Hydash, President & CEO.
“Family HealthCare Network is cooperating with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our team members and patients. As this is an active investigation, we are deferring to law enforcement for additional details.”