Fresno mass-killing suspect in court. Alleged mail theft led to other murder suspects
Billy Xiong, one of six suspects charged in the Nov. 17 mass killing in southeast Fresno, appeared in court Thursday on a mail theft charge that ultimately led to the arrests of the other murder suspects.
Fresno police said Xiong, 25, and five others are responsible for the deaths of four people and injuries to six others after a shooting during a backyard party at a home in the 5300 block of East Lamona Avenue.
Police said the shooting was intended as gang retaliation, but they do not believe any of the victims were gang members, and thus they were mistakenly targeted.
Killed in the Nov. 17 shooting were Kou Xiong, 38; Xy Lee, 23; Kalaxang Thao, 40; and Phia Vang, 31.
Despite an intensive search for the suspects, they remained on the loose for nearly a month. That is until Clovis police broke open the case with the arrest of Xiong for alleged identify theft and stealing mail.
When police searched Xiong’s car, they found a fully automatic Glock pistol, along with two high-capacity magazines. A federal check of shell casings fired by the gun determined that it was used in the Lamona shooting.
Xiong was charged on Dec. 17 with 20 felonies and three misdemeanors related to the mail theft and gun possession. Two other suspects were also charged but are not connected to the Nov. 17 shooting. He has pleaded not guilty and will be back in court on Jan. 17 for the mail theft charges.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s office expects the Lamona shooting suspects to be arraigned Friday.
The arrested men, alleged members of the Mongolian Boys Society gang, were identified as Billy Xiong, 25; Anthony Montes, 27, Porge Kue, 26, Johnny Xiong, 25, Pao Vang, 30, and Jhovanny Delgado, 19.
Police also identified a person of interest in the case, Sia “Giant” Vang, 23, who is wanted on a parole violation.
Fresno District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said Tuesday at a news conference announcing the arrests the death penalty was not off the table. Other charges include attempted murder for the wounding of the surviving victims.
Defense attorney Gerald Schwab has been hired to represent Johnny Xiong, 25, the alleged driver of the car used on the night of the shooting.
Schwab said he is hoping the DA takes into account Xiong’s alleged minor role in the murders.
“My guy has never even been arrested,” Schwab said. “He has no prior criminal history and limited gang involvement. He was the least involved in this thing.”
This story was originally published January 2, 2020 at 1:19 PM.
