On December 6, 2022, 55-year-old Phonesavanh "Ponce" Viengmany, a Laotian male residing in Toledo, Ohio, was discovered deceased in a field near the intersection of Woodruff Avenue and Hawthorne Street. Responding officers from the Toledo Police Department arrived at approximately 7:45 a.m. and found Mr. Viengmany suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An autopsy conducted by the Lucas County Coroner's Office on December 7 confirmed that the cause of death was due to multiple gunshot wounds, and the incident was officially ruled a homicide.
Born on November 30, 1967, in Paksan, Laos, Mr. Viengmany was affectionately known by the nicknames "Ponce" or "Poncho." He attended Genoa High School in the 1980s, played football, and graduated from Libbey High School in 1987. For over 25 years, he was self-employed as an upholsterer, specializing in car interiors, and was renowned for his craftsmanship. Ponce was also an accomplished painter, with some of his artwork featured in The Toledo Blade. He had a deep passion for the outdoors, particularly fishing and hunting, and cherished the time spent with his children, Alexander and Alyssa Viengmany. He is survived by his parents, Phay and Sanong Viengmany, and siblings Samphanh , Sanhty , Nope, and Ophat Viengmany.
As of now, there have been no reports of arrests or identification of suspects related to the homicide of Mr. Viengmany. The Toledo Police Department continues to investigate the case and has urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
A visitation for Mr. Viengmany was held on December 11, 2022, at Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home in Oregon, Ohio. The family has requested that those wishing to express sympathy consider planting a tree in his memory.
