Sep. 8—An Austin man with a background of convictions including assaults, threats and firearm charges, has been charged in Mower County District Court with a wide assortment of charges relating to an incident involving a firearm.
Thavinh Kullavongsa, 42, was arrested and charged Monday with six counts in total including four felonies for violent felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, second degree assault with a dangerous weapon and receiving stolen property.
He was also charged with two counts of misdemeanor domestic assault.
According to the court complaint, Austin Police Department Officers were called to a residence in the 900 block of 13th Avenue NW in Austin at around 10:17 a.m. on Sept. 6 to speak to a subject regarding a vandalism report from the night before.
According to the subject, Kullavongsa allegedly came to his room demanding money and a PlayStation controller, which the victim said he didn’t have.
Once he opened the door, Kullavongsa allegedly pointed a black, semi-automatic handgun at his chest. According to the report, the victim, who had his own gun in hand and pointed to the ground because of Kullavongsa allegedly using methamphetamines in the past and brandishing a gun in previous confrontations, reached for the gun and wrestled Kullavongsa to the floor while a witness to the confrontation began to hit Kullavongsa.
During the confrontation the clip somehow fell out of the gun and it was noted that there were bullets in the magazine.
Another witness in the house told police that she heard yelling about money and the PlayStation controller and banging at the victim’s door and still another witness echoed the information, adding that he also saw that when the victim opened the door, Kullavongsa pointed the weapon at the victim’s chest.
When questioned, Kullavongsa claimed he was holding a lighter that looked like a gun, even though video played to an officer showed both Kullavongsa pointing the weapon at the victim and that it appeared too big to be a lighter.
A later search of the residence turned up two handguns — one of which had been reported stolen in Iowa — ammunition and a Glock 17 Gen5 light with aftermarket laser/light attachment.
A review of Kullavongsa’s criminal history shows prior convictions for second degree assault with a dangerous weapon, terroristic threats and a firearm violation for being a violent felon.
Kullavongsa’s next court appearance will be on Sept. 22.