Teen Who Survived 2017 Mass Shooting Dies in Calif. Boating Accident, Brother and Father Still Missing

Mar. 15, 2025

Johnny Phommathep and his two sons, Jake and Johnny Jr.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

A teenage boy, who was the victim of a mass shooting in 2017, has died and his younger brother and father are among four who are still missing after aboating accident in California.

On Monday, Nov. 4 at 4:45 p.m. local time, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office shared an update onFacebook, revealing Johnny Phommathep II, 17, of Corning, had been found dead the day prior after the boat they were on capsized while they were crabbing off the coast of Bodega Bay on Saturday, Nov. 2.

“Our sincerest condolences to his family,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Facebook post had previously revealed that six people had been on the 21-foot white Bayliner boat at the time; three adults and three juveniles.

One person was found alive, but four are still missing, police confirmed.

The search continues for the four missing following the boating accident.United States Coast Guard via AP

United States Coast Guard via AP

According to theL.A. Times, Johnny survived the shooting along with his younger brother Jake, now 14, and mom Tiffany Phommathep. The outlet stated Tiffany took five bullets trying to protect her sons.

While speaking to the publication, Tiffany said, “It’s really hard because both my sons, Johnny Jr. and Jake, they survived the Rancho Tehama shooting."

“We survived that and for them to come to their end like this….” she added.

“The odds are not likely … but I would like to hold on to hope that maybe they reached shore somewhere,” Tiffany told theL.A. Times.

The search continues for the four missing following the boating accident.Sonoma Sheriff Facebook

Sonoma Sheriff Facebook

Tiffany identified the other two missing adults as her husband’s cousin, Prasong Khammoungkhoune, 45 — who was said to have owned the boat — and his longtime friend, Matthew Ong, 42.

“The boat started taking on water so fast they didn’t even have time to radio for emergency service,” Tiffany told theL.A. Timesof information she learned from the boy who had been rescued and officials.

A photo of Bodega Bay, California.Getty

Getty

“They didn’t do anything else besides making sure everybody had a life jacket — and everybody had a life jacket,” she added, insisting the group were experienced boaters.

“He wanted to get into college, he wanted to be a pharmacist,” Tiffany said of her late son Johnny, who was a student at Corning Union High School. “He was such a good kid.”

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source: people.com