Chai Vang

Mass Murderer

Chai Vang and the 2004 Wisconsin Hunting Murders

Background

Chai Soua Vang was a 36-year-old truck driver from St. Paul, Minnesota, when he committed one of the deadliest hunting-related mass shootings in United States history. Vang, who was born in Laos on September 24, 1968, was a member of the Hmong American community and had previously served for approximately six years in the California National Guard. He was an experienced hunter and owned a semiautomatic Saiga rifle chambered for 7.62-by-39-millimeter ammunition. On the weekend of November 20 and 21, 2004, Vang traveled to northwestern Wisconsin with several companions for the opening weekend of the state's deer-hunting season. The group was hunting in the wooded countryside east of Birchwood, near the small community of Meteor in Sawyer County. The region contained a mixture of public forest and privately owned hunting land, making property boundaries an important issue for hunters in the area.

Encounter on Private Hunting Property

On the morning of Sunday, November 21, 2004, Vang became separated from his companions and entered a privately owned tract of approximately 400 acres. The property was used by an extended group of relatives and friends who gathered there each year for deer season. Vang climbed into a tree stand located on the private land and remained there until he was discovered by property co-owner Terry Willers. Willers contacted others at the hunting cabin by radio to determine whether anyone in their party was supposed to be using the stand. After learning that the hunter was a stranger, Willers approached Vang and informed him that he was trespassing. Vang climbed down and began walking away. Other members of the hunting party were called to the location, and a heated verbal confrontation developed. The precise words and actions that immediately preceded the shooting were disputed at Vang's trial. Survivors acknowledged that insulting and racially offensive language was directed at Vang. Vang claimed that one of the hunters fired at him as he attempted to leave and that he initially fired in self-defense. The surviving hunters testified that no one fired at Vang before he began shooting. Investigators found physical evidence showing that several victims were struck while running or facing away from him, undermining his claim that every shot was necessary to protect himself.

The Shooting Rampage

Vang opened fire with his semiautomatic rifle and continued shooting as members of the hunting party attempted to flee, seek cover, radio for help, or reach the scene from the nearby cabin. He fired approximately 20 rounds during the attack. The violence occurred across multiple points along a wooded trail rather than in one stationary confrontation. Terry Willers was shot and wounded near the beginning of the attack. Mark Roidt and Dennis Drew were also fired upon in the initial area. Lauren Hesebeck was seriously wounded but remained alive by lying still and attempting to avoid further attention. Robert Crotteau used a radio to warn people at the cabin and request assistance, but Vang pursued and shot him. Robert's 20-year-old son, Joseph "Joey" Crotteau, attempted to escape down a trail. Vang chased him and fired repeatedly. Evidence presented at trial showed that Joey was struck several times while fleeing. Vang later admitted shooting victims who were moving away from him, maintaining that he believed they remained threats. After hearing the calls for help, Allan Laski and Jessica Willers traveled toward the scene on an all-terrain vehicle. Vang concealed himself near the trail and fired as they approached. Both were struck. Prosecutors argued that this portion of the attack demonstrated that Vang was no longer reacting to an immediate confrontation but was deliberately shooting additional members of the group as they arrived. Vang later returned toward the location where some of the first victims had fallen. He encountered the wounded Lauren Hesebeck and fired again. Hesebeck managed to obtain a rifle and discharge a shot in Vang's direction. Vang then fled through the woods after exhausting or discarding much of his ammunition. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Robert Bob Crotteau 42 yr old Male

Chai Vang - Wikipedia