Witness testifies deadly Fresno mass shooting was ordered, planned by gang leaders
A confidential witness on Wednesday testified in Fresno County Superior Court about some of the events leading up to a Nov. 17, 2019 mass shooting at a southeast Fresno home that killed four people and injured six others.
The witness, whose identity was protected by the court out of concern for his safety, told Judge Arlan Harrell that one of the alleged leaders of the Mongolian Boys Society gang sat in the backseat of a sliver Toyota Corolla the night of the killings, using three cell phones to coordinate a violent attack on a suspected rival’s home.
Killed that night were Kou Xiong, 38; Xy Lee, 23; Kalaxang Thao, 40; and Phia Vang, 31. They had gathered with others for a football watch party in the backyard of a residence in the 5300 block of East Lamona Avenue.
Police have said that none of the victims were gang members.
Four gang members, Ger Lee, 29; Anthony Montes, 29; Porge Kue, 28; and Billy Xiong, 27, have been charged with the killings and were in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. Judge Harrell will decide if there is enough evidence to put the defendants on trial for murder.
Witness testimony
Deputy District Attorney Kelly Smith, the prosecutor in the case, said the witness would provide key details into how the shooting was carried out.
The witness, who said he is no longer active in the Mongolian Boys Society, said high-ranking members of the gang called a meeting at a rental house after finding out that a fellow member’s brother was gunned down.
One of the leaders, who the witness identified as Ger Lee, asked for volunteers to carry out his plan for retaliation. The witness said about seven people stepped forward, including Porge Kue and Anthony Montes, who volunteered to be the shooters.
The witness said the two shooters were both given handguns, one a 9mm fully automatic Glock with a 30-round magazine.
While some of the gang members prepared the guns by cleaning them, others looked on a computer tablet for the homes of their rivals, the Asian Crips, the witness said.
After they found a target they left in four separate cars. Riding with the witness was his wife and Lee, who was in charge of the operation.
The witness testified he was appointed to be a lookout. He parked his wife’s Toyota Corolla at a Shell station on McKinley and Peach avenues, where they waited.
Using three cell phones, Lee, who went by the nickname Stomper, was talking with the others about any sightings of police. They were all waiting for his signal, the witness said.
“When Stomper said, ‘Do it,’ we got quiet and waited,” the witness said. “Then I heard him say, ‘It’s done,’ and we want back to the rental house.”
They were also admonished by higher-ranking gang members to keep quiet about what they had done.
Defense cross examines witness
During cross-examination, Michael Aed, Lee’s defense attorney, accused the witness of telling prosecutors what they wanted to hear in order to prevent his wife from being charged with a crime.
The witness said his wife didn’t know what was happening that night. But Aed pressed him on how much she knew.
“Your wife told police she was aware something was going on, and she told you that you needed to take responsibility for what happened,” Aed said. “And she also told you the police would help you and that the more information you give them the better the outcome will be for you.”
The preliminary hearing continues Thursday in Dept. 62.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
