On a summer afternoon, the vibrant sounds and celebratory atmosphere of the 38th Annual Hmong Freedom Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota, were tragically shattered by violence. Nineteen-year-old Asian male, Jacky Vue, lost his life on July 1, 2018, amidst the thousands gathered at Como Regional Park. The festive air turned chaotic when a confrontation, reportedly sparked by a dispute between rival gangs, escalated into a fatal shooting.
The incident began with a fight involving umbrellas
between two groups of young men. This altercation quickly intensified, leading to gunfire. Vue was found suffering from gunshot wounds behind a refreshment tent. He was rushed to Regions Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It remains unclear if Vue was directly involved in the initial conflict. He had recently graduated from high school.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement officers who were already present at the festival quickly responded to the chaotic scene. Their investigation led to the swift arrest of two cousins in connection with the homicide. Nougai Xiong, 27, of St. Paul, was identified as the suspected shooter and was charged with two counts of second-degree murder. His cousin, Yang Houa Xiong, 28, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, was charged with aiding an offender.
According to court documents, Yang Houa Xiong told investigators that he and his cousin were attacked by a group of men who hit them with umbrellas and threatened them. He stated that Nougai Xiong then drew a handgun and fired at one of the men. Nougai Xiong initially denied his involvement and any gang affiliation. However, his cousin admitted to police that Nougai was a member of the Asian Crips gang and that the altercation was with members of the Oroville Mono Boys. Yang Houa Xiong later led police to the location where the gun was hidden. Nougai Xiong was subsequently sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for his role in Jacky Vue's death, while Yang Houa Xiong received a seven-year sentence for aiding an offender.
