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Toddler scorched by flash grenade in Georgia home prepares for more surgery
The 19-month-old, Bounkham Phonesavanh — who lost the use of one lung — remained in a medically induced coma on Monday and was preparing to undergo another surgery since he was injured during the raid at his relative's Habersham County home last week. The relative, Wanis Thonetaheva — who was wanted for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer — was not home, but was arrested later.
Breathing with just one lung, a toddler who was severely scorched by a flash grenade when police raided his alleged drug-dealing relative’s Georgia home was preparing for another surgery Monday.
The 19-month-old, Bounkham (Bou Bou) Phonesavanh, remained in a medically induced coma nearly a week after Habersham County authorities set off the flash bang device while executing a no-knock arrest warrant for Wanis Thonetaheva, 30, family said.
The child, suffering burns to his face and chest, was lying in his crib when the explosion blasted next to him last Tuesday, WSB-TV reported.
The county's district attorney, Brian Rickman, said his office will review the raid and determine whether any of the officers involved face prosecution. Rickman said the Coweta County district attorney will assist in the investigation to avoid any conflicts of interest.
Authorities have said a confidential informant told them there were no children inside Thonetaheva’s home — located about 90 miles northeast of Atlanta — when they burst inside.
Thonetaheva, who was wanted for selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer, was not home at the time of the raid.
The wanted man was not home, but his relatives — which included little Bounkham, his three older sisters and their parents — were all inside when police descended on the home.
The family had been visiting from Wisconsin since losing their home to a fire earlier this year, and their lawyer said officers could have learned that by basic observation.
“(The family) had been in this home for about two months,” said the family’s attorney, Mawuli Mel Davis.
“This is a stay-at-home dad who was out in front of the home, playing with the children on a daily basis. Any surveillance that was done would have revealed there was a father with four children who played in that driveway.”
The bleeding child was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital after he was hurt. No one else was injured.
Thonetaheva was found at someone else’s home a short time later.
The child’s father, Boun Khan Phonesavanh, said his son was clinging to life.
“We just ask everybody to pray for our child,” he told reporters outside the hospital on Saturday. “He’s not doing too good.”
Community leaders and relatives planned to hold a prayer vigil outside the hospital on Monday afternoon.
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