UPDATE
Related Story: Death Penalty Possible for Six Arrested in Hmong Murders
Six suspects are in custody in the mass shooting that killed four Hmong residents on Nov. 17 and are being held in the Fresno County Jail.
Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall announced the arrests in a news conference Tuesday morning.
The suspects are all self-admitted members of the Mongolian Boys Society gang, Hall said. Weapons used in the shooting were recovered through the investigation, as well, he said.
Hall said all of the suspects admitted during questioning that they targeted the gathering at a home in southeast Fresno because they believed rival gang members were present. He said at least one person attending the gathering had a prior affiliation with a rival gang, though was not active. Five others at the party left before officers arrived on the scene after the shooting.
“We have not identified them, so we don’t know if they played a role in this homicide or not,” Hall said.
Identities of the Suspects
The suspects are Billy Xiong, 25; Anthony Montes, 27; Porgue Kue, 26; Johnny Xiong, 25; Pao Vang, 30; and Jhovanny Delgado, 19.
Police also said that Sia Vang, whose street name is “Giant,” is a person of interest in the investigation.
These six men are in custody in connection with the Nov. 17, 2019 slayings of four Fresno men. (Fresno PD)
Crime Stoppers Tip Assisted Investigation
“A tip to Crime Stoppers served as a pointer in our investigation that led us to an interview with a person who had additional information on this case,” Hall said. “This led to further tips and the end result.”
A total of $56,000 in reward money has been offered through Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of suspects in the case.
The four men who died in the mass shooting were 23-year-old Xy Lee, a Hmong singer; 31-year-old Phia Vang, 38-year-old Kou Xiong, and 40-year-old Kalaxang Thao. All of the men were from Fresno.
Six others were injured in the attack, which came as a crowd was watching a Sunday night football game on television at a residence in southeast Fresno.
Sia “Giant” Vang is a person of interest in connection with the killings. (Fresno PD)
More Than $100,000 Raised to Pay for Funerals, Other Expenses
Fresno Mayor Lee Brand said at the Dec. 26 kickoff to the annual Hmong New Year’s celebration that local political leaders and community groups helped raise more than $100,000 toward the funerals for the victims and other costs.
Following the tragedy, Hall had said, “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.”
Victims from the Nov. 17 Fresno shooting, from left to right: Phia Vang, Kalaxang Thao, Kou Xiong, Xy Lee. (GV Wire File)
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