At a special meeting Friday morning, the Fresno City Council voted 7-0 to add $40,000 to the Valley Crime Stoppers reward fund that leads to an arrest of the suspects accused of killing four men in southeast Fresno last Sunday.
Police allege two gunmen entered a family party Sunday night, firing upon partygoers, striking 10 — of which four died. No motive is known, nor arrests made. The families of Xy Lee, Kou Xiong, Phia Vang and Kalaxang Thao continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
All council members expressed condolences and support for the family.
“We are all united,” Councilmen Garry Bredefeld said. “We will be with you all the way.”
Related Story: Deadly Attack Leaves Fresno Hmong Community in Shock
Crime Stoppers Reward
“It’s not a Hmong tragedy. It is a Fresno city tragedy.” — Hmong leader Pao Yang
Although details on where the $40,000 is coming from were not specified on the agenda item voted upon, Councilman Miguel Arias told GV Wire earlier in the week it would be $5,000 from each council district plus $5,000 from the mayor’s office.
Valley Crime Stoppers already has raised $16,000.
Tips can be made anonymously by calling 559-498-STOP (559-498-7867), or at this link.
A Crime Stoppers representative said Friday that no one will qualify for the reward unless they use the tip phone line or the website.
Related Story: Fresno Victim’s Father: ‘Xy is a Child of the City’
A Fresno Tragedy
A separate GoFundMe account has been established for the victims and their families to cover medical and funeral expenses. As of Friday morning, the fund had received more than $11,000 from 200-plus donors. The goal is $500,000.
“I’m so mad that this occurred. The people behind me — they are not the Hmong community. They are Fresno. This is Fresno. They are our community. I will not rest until the suspects are caught and brought to justice. Then I will grieve. And I will grieve with them.”— Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall
“It’s not a Hmong tragedy. It is a Fresno city tragedy,” Pao Yang, CEO of immigration aid non-profit The Fresno Center and spokesman for the families, said. He was accompanied by Xiong’s widow and the father of Vang.
Yang also asked the city for three things: find the killers, help bury the dead, and heal together.
Said Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall: “I’m heartbroken over this. More, I’m angry. I’m so mad that this occurred. The people behind me — they are not the Hmong community. They are Fresno. This is Fresno. They are our community. I will not rest until the suspects are caught and brought to justice. Then I will grieve. And I will grieve with them.”
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