On a tragic evening in Joplin, Missouri, a dispute over something as commonplace as an iPad used for music escalated into a fatal act of violence, claiming the life of 30-year-old Chong Xiong. The incident unfolded late on a Sunday night in June 2020, inside the Bites N Pipes hookah lounge, a local establishment in the Bayberry Square Strip mall. What began as a disagreement over the device turned into a physical altercation, culminating in a deadly shooting that left two men dead and another
person seriously injured.
The man identified as the shooter, 20-year-old Raymond Badios of Joplin, became embroiled in a fight over the iPad. Following the physical struggle, Badios reportedly retrieved a gun. As he was leaving the lounge, he turned back and opened fire. His first victim was 36-year-old Toua Lee, who, according to police, was not involved in the initial conflict. Badios then fired a second shot which struck and injured another patron. He subsequently turned his weapon on Chong Xiong, shooting him multiple times. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, several people inside the lounge bravely intervened, tackling Badios and holding him down until law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. Both Chong Xiong and Toua Lee were pronounced dead at the lounge.
Following the incident, Raymond Badios was arrested at the scene. Prosecutors later charged him with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Chong Xiong and Toua Lee. In addition to the murder charges, Badios also faced one count of assault and three counts of armed criminal action. The management of Bites N Pipes later stated that the shooter was not a regular patron and that they were cooperating fully with the police investigation, providing surveillance footage and witness testimonies to help ensure justice was served.
