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Suspected Gunman Charged In Wis. Hunter Slayings

Chai Vang's Daughter Speaks At News Conference

POSTED: 11:57 am EST November 29, 2004
UPDATED: 5:54 pm EST November 29, 2004

Homicide charges have been filed against the Minnesota man accused of fatally shooting six hunters and wounding two others in northwest Wisconsin.

Chai Vang, 36, faces six charges of first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon and two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide charges in the Nov. 21 shooting rampage.



Three attorneys from Milwaukee will represent Vang, an immigrant from Laos who get life in prison if convicted. Wisconsin does not have a death penalty.

The shootings began after Vang was caught trespassing on a hunting platform on some of the victims' land.

In court papers, Vang said he opened fire after the others took a shot at him first and used racial slurs. But two of the survivors told authorities that Vang fired first.

Vang is being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail. His attorneys, along with his daughter, spoke at a news conference Sunday.

Vang's daughter spoke in her father's defense.

"My father, he is a great person, and he does take care of his family, and he loves his family very much. At this time, I really don't know what my father did. I haven't talked to him. I haven't had any kind of contact with him. It was a shock to me," Kia Vang said.

Steve Kohn
Attorney Steve Kohn, of Milwaukee, is one of the three lawyers that will represent Vang.

She said the truth about what happened in the woods last weekend will come out one way or another.

Vang's lawyers said they are considering all possible defenses. They said they might ask for a change of venue since all the victims are from a tight-knit community in Rice Lake, Wis.

Funerals are being held Monday for two more of the hunters who were killed. Jessica Willers and Dennis Drew will be laid to rest. Jessica's father, Terry, survived the shooting.

Services were held for Al Laski, Mark Roidt, Robert Crotto, and his son, Joe, over the weekend.

The Rice Lake business community is urging Packers fans to wear blaze orange Monday night to the Packers game at Lambeau Field to honor the fallen hunters.


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