A murder suspect is facing life in prison after a deadly 2023 shooting near Lewisville High School.
A jury sentenced Siang Thang to life in prison on October 24, according to a press release from the Denton County District Attorney’s Office. He allegedly shot and killed 17-year-old Skylar Ashton Marquel Linson in Lewisville in September 2023.
First Assistant District Attorney Jamie Beck told The Dallas Express that Thang was 16 at the time of the murder, but prosecutors certified him to stand trial as an adult.
“It was senseless,” Beck said. “The jury was pretty clear that when you take a life in such a senseless, cold-blooded fashion, you’re going to get life.”
This killing stemmed from another murder earlier that year.
Taylor Hooker, 17, allegedly shot and killed Van Sui Uk, also 17, at a park in Lewisville on May 27, as Fox 4 reported. Hooker technically got out on bond, but was never released due to a different hold, according to Beck. She said this sparked outrage among the area’s Chin residents, from Burma.
“They thought getting out on bond meant no criminal charges,” Beck said. “They thought Taylor Hooker got away with murder.”
The victim, Uk, was Thang’s best friend. So the Flower Mound resident sought vengeance, according to Beck – “he wanted to avenge his death.”
Linson made rap videos, one of which mentioned the shooting of Van Sui Uk.
“This defendant just thinks, ‘Okay, he’s who I need to go after,’” Beck said.
So Thang and Linson went back and forth on Instagram for close to three months. Eventually, Beck said, Thang lured Linson to Raising Cane’s in Lewisville at 4 p.m. on September 20, 2023.
Linson was a student at Lewisville High School, which had just let out. He brought three friends.
“We believe he thinks he’s showing up – ‘We’ve been going back and forth on Instagram, let’s duke this out.’ He shows up with no weapons,” Beck said. “As soon as this defendant gets a chance, he shoots him seven times, including the final shot – which is after he drove around the parking lot, came back, and shot him one last time.”
“It really was just very cold-blooded,” she added.
Responders brought Linson to Medical City Denton, where he died less than an hour later from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office.
After the shooting, Thang allegedly fled the scene. But Beck said two “good Samaritans” jumped into action.
One woman called 911 with the description and license plate of Thang’s car, and one man called 911 as he followed the vehicle. “He’s on 911 the whole time,” Beck said.
When Lewisville police caught up to the suspect’s car, he briefly tried to escape for close to 2 minutes, according to Beck.
“Ultimately, he just puts the car in park, and gets out with his hands up and says, ‘The gun’s in the front seat,’” Beck said. “So he was caught within minutes, really, thanks to two good Samaritans.”
Lewisville police ultimately arrested Thang near 1800 Trinity Mills Road in Carrollton, according to the Cross Timbers Gazette. He was booked in the Denton County Jail on a murder charge. ADAs Karen Anders and Michelle Lowery prosecuted the suspect in court.
“Officers responded quickly after the initial shooting and identified the suspect after he left the scene in a vehicle. An officer initiated a traffic stop a short time later, and the suspect surrendered without incident,” said Elizabeth Mayes, a department media representative, to The Dallas Express. “The department appreciates the work of our detectives, patrol officers, and the collaborating agencies who ensured a safe and thorough investigation that led to this outcome.”