In the early hours of a Minnesota winter, a night that began with music and celebration ended in tragedy. Just after midnight on December 22, 2019, gunfire erupted in the parking lot of the Dala Thai Restaurant and Banquet Hall in Spring Lake Park, a suburb of Minneapolis. When the chaos subsided, 19-year-old Chai Yang, a male resident of St. Paul, was found dead, his life cut short by the violence that unfolded.
Seven other individuals were also wounded in the shooting, though their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The incident occurred as an 'Ugly Sweater Party,' featuring a live concert, was concluding at the venue.
According to the Anoka County Sheriff's Office, the shooting was preceded by a physical altercation between two groups of people in the crowded parking lot. A video that circulated online captured the moments a fight broke out, followed by a volley of at least 16 gunshots that sent attendees scrambling for cover behind vehicles. In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement secured the scene, but no suspects were taken into custody. The investigation was quickly underway, with authorities appealing to the public for any information or video footage of the incident. Detectives began exploring the possibility that the shooting was gang-related.
In the weeks that followed, the investigation continued, and in January 2020, authorities announced they had identified a person of interest. This individual, a 26-year-old man, was seen on surveillance video actively involved in the fight that preceded the shooting. He was reportedly wearing a distinctive sweatshirt with the words 'Asian Crip King' on the front. While this man was arrested on a parole violation, it is not publicly known if he was ever formally charged in connection with Chai Yang's death.
Despite the identification of a person of interest, the case has grown cold. To this day, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been officially named in the death of Chai Yang. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office now lists his death as an unsolved homicide. The case remains open, a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the community, with persons of interest having been developed but no charges filed. The search for justice for the young man who lost his life on that cold December night continues.
