WI Deadly Hunter Shooting Spree Update

WEAU TV 13 ^ | 11/22/2004 | Andrew Fefer, Paige Pearson, Anna Wagnild, Trevor Luetke

[quietolong]

Deadly Shooting Spree Update
November 22, 2004
Andrew Fefer

The Sawyer County sheriff says there are thousands of acres of public land in that area available for hunting, but the dispute took place at midday Sunday on four-hundred acres of private land.

When the landowner saw 36-year-old Chai Vang in a tree stand without permission, he radioed to his hunting party.

"He stated over the radio he was going to go and ask the persons to leave," said Sheriff Jim Meier. "He approached the person and asked him to leave at which time the landowners and occupants of the cabin that he was staying at also came on the scene; the suspect got down from the stand, walked about 40 yards, fiddled with his rifle, maybe took the scope off, turned, and opened fire on the group."

That's when Terry Willard radioed for help, but as seven other people came to assist, they became victims as well. Finally, a few other members of the party were able to make a run for help.

"The rescuers, who also came under fire, checked the bodies for signs of life and they grabbed who they could grab and got out of there because they were still under fire."

As the survivors sped toward Birchwood, the shooter reportedly stayed in the woods for another five hours, his exact movements not clear until he was seen by two other hunters.

"They came upon the subject, he reported he was lost, they didn't realize who they were talking to, so out of the goodness of their hearts, they gave him a ride back out at which time they had realized they had Mr. Vang in their presence and offered him a ride to the warden's truck, at which time he was taken into custody."

The suspect, Vang, was described as calm and cooperative, saying nothing that would indicate what specifically led to the gunshots that left victims, dead and wounded, scattered over an area of about a hundred yards.

Link to story

Who Is Chai Vang?
(November 22, 2004)
Paige Pearson

We are learning more about the Sawyer County shootings suspect, Chai Soua Vang.

The thirty-six year-old St. Paul resident is reportedly a truck driver, a father of six, and served in the U-S army.

Though Vang's background isn't entirely clear, his criminal history is, and includes multiple run-ins with Twin Cities law enforcement.

St. Paul police have responded to four incidents at Vang's Fourth Street address. The matters have involved domestic abuse and possible thefts.

On December 24, 2001 Minneapolis police brought Vang in on a charge of 2nd Degree Assault. The victim said Vang made threats while waving a gun. The charge was later dropped.

Just the same, Vang's brother says the entire family is in a state of disbelief.

"I was shocked, I thought I was in a dream or something. I thought I'd wake up and nothing would be wrong," says Vang's brother who wished to be unidentified.

Vang was with a couple of other people while in the Sawyer County area. Sheriff's officials are trying to locate them for questioning.

Link to story

Sawyer County Shootings
November 22, 2004
Trevor Luetke

A press conference held at 9:30 this morning at the Lakeview Hospital in Rice Lake released information on the patients conditions. The three survivors, all from Barron County, were all taken to Lakeview Medical Center in Rice Lake.

Denny Drew was shot in the stomach from close range. Drew underwent a three hour operation to stop internal bleeding and repair tissue damage. He is currently in critical condition and officials say his condition is improving. Lauren Hesebeck was shot in the arm, the bullet exited out the top of his shoulder. Hesebeck is in stable condition at this time. Terry Willers was hit in the neck. Because of his injury, he was flown to St. Joe's Hospital in Marshfield.

The Sawyer County Sheriffs Department will also be holding a press conference in Hayward at 1pm today to give more information on the case. TV13 will interrupt regular broadcasting to bring that press conference to you LIVE.

Link to story

Shooting Weapon
(November 22, 2004)
Anna Wagnild

The type of rifle used in Sunday's shootings is a semi-automatic SKS rifle, a gun considered to be popular among hunters. It typically holds a magazine with ten shots and is relatively inexpensive to operate.

A local firearms expert says because the SKS is light and has less recoil than many other rifles, it is a suitable hunting rifle for smaller individuals. Many hunters also use it for target practice.

"You'd be surprised how many people have SKS's," says John Naser. "I know people who have three or four of them. It's not going to be painful to shoot, and yet it's still effective."

Naser says the design was used by communist countries in the 1950s and is used for distances of 100 yards or less.

Link to story

Help For Hunting Victims Families
November 22, 2004

A fund has been set up for the families of survivors and victims of the hunter shootings in Sawyer County.

Contributions can be sent to:

Rice Lake Hunters Survivors and Victims Funds
Dairy State Bank
16 S. Main Street
Rice Lake, WI 54868

Five hunters were shot and killed and three others wounded Sunday after a confrontation with a deer who apparently entered private property. The 36-year-old St. Paul man is being held in the Sawyer County jail at Hayward.

Link to story

[quietolong]

Watch the news conference at 1pm they have released more info should be in print shortly

[Paleo Conservative]

Though Vang's background isn't entirely clear, his criminal history is, and includes multiple run-ins with Twin Cities law enforcement.

St. Paul police have responded to four incidents at Vang's Fourth Street address. The matters have involved domestic abuse and possible thefts.,

So why was he allowed to even get a hunting license or own a weapon? I believe in the 2nd amendment, but I think criminals do lose constitutional rights once they have been convicted of crimes especially violent crimes.

[MEG33]

Tragic..May God be with the loved ones and those he wounded.

[Welsh Rabbit]

"I was shocked, I thought I was in a dream or something. I thought I'd wake up and nothing would be wrong," says Vang's brother who wished to be unidentified.

Sad. I know exactly how that feels (not that any of my relatives have ever done anything this horrible!).

[supercat]

So why was he allowed to even get a hunting license or own a weapon? I believe in the 2nd amendment, but I think criminals do lose constitutional rights once they have been convicted of crimes especially violent crimes.

Where did it say he was convicted?

[atomicpossum]

So why was he allowed to even get a hunting license or own a weapon? I believe in the 2nd amendment, but I think criminals do lose constitutional rights once they have been convicted of crimes especially violent crimes.

It doesn't say anything about convictions. And a response by law enforcement does not neccessarily mean that he was doing anything-- it could have been thefts of his stuff, even. Frankly, the way this story is worded could be completely unfair (acknowledging, of course, this person is apparently guilty of the shootings alleged).

[brbethke]

So why was he allowed to even get a hunting license or own a weapon?

According to the local news, he was never charged and convicted in any of those previous incidents, therefore his right to possess a gun is unrestrained.

Oddly enough, though, the local stations are reporting that he was convicted and fined for poaching last year, which may explain why he was hunting in Wisconsin: he probably couldn't get a license in Minnesota.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

No felony convictions.

The left and ACLU types protect these while blasting lawful gun owners.

[Tench_Coxe]

Bookmarked

[E. Pluribus Unum]

At least the gun-grabbers will keep their mouths shut about this one, since the perp is a minority and the victims were non-minorities.

[joesnuffy]

I have lived around the Hmong for nearly 20 yrs and one thing (of a great many things) they seem to have little respect for are game laws...and private property..

[Grassontop]

This man deserves the death penalty! Anyone else feel the same way that my wife and I do?

[Flatus I. Maximus]

No, they won't. They're already nattering about how this wouldn't have happened if people weren't allowed to own "high-powered automatic assault rifles."

That, and I've already heard one chattering idiot of a radio commentator say, "He must have been provoked," and this was all caused by those racist redneck yokels.

[Flatus I. Maximus]

Nope. Too short.

[glock rocks]

Sad the poacher wasn't given an opportunity to drop his weapon before exiting the tree stand at gunpoint. Lives would have been saved.

[FrankRepublican]

Another illegal alien with 10 children on welfare kills a bunch of tax paying Americans.

They should deport his whole effing family.

[claudiustg]

What makes you think he was here illegally or that he has 10 children? The story clearly states that he has 6 children and served in the US Army.