On a tragic day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 6, 2016, the life of 32-year-old Mai K. Vue, a female of Hmong ethnicity, was violently cut short. She was a victim of a triple homicide that also claimed the lives of her 36-year-old husband, Phia Vue, and their 40-year-old neighbor, Jesus R. Manso-Pérez. The man responsible for this horrific act was their neighbor, 39-year-old Dan Popp.
The events of that day unfolded with a chilling sequence of violence.
Popp first encountered Manso-Pérez and his son, reportedly becoming agitated when they declined his offer of a beer and continued to speak Spanish. After making a derogatory comment about their Puerto Rican heritage, he fatally shot Manso-Pérez. Earlier, Popp had knocked on the Vues' door but left when a relative answered. Later, the Vue family heard the gunshots that killed their neighbor and locked themselves in a bedroom for safety.
Their sense of security was shattered when Popp kicked down their door. He demanded Phia Vue come out of the room and then shot him. In the terrifying aftermath, Popp dragged Mai Vue and her two young daughters to his own apartment. Fortunately, some family members were able to escape the apartment and alert the police.
Law enforcement arrived at the scene and apprehended Dan Popp. He was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. During the legal proceedings, his defense attorney argued that he was mentally ill and not fit to stand trial. However, the court found him guilty of the charges brought against him. For his crimes, Dan Popp was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
