Man accused in mass killing at Fresno football watch party has died while awaiting trial
One of the four men charged in a mass shooting at a football party in southeast Fresno has died, his attorney confirmed Tuesday at a court hearing.
Porge Kue, 30, was charged with four murders and other crimes along with three other defendants accused of the Nov. 17, 2019, alleged gang-related shooting that killed four men and injured six others.
The investigation into Kue’s death was ongoing and the cause of his death was not immediately available, according to Fresno County Deputy District Attorney Kelly Smith.
Kue’s death was not caused by the hands of another inmate though the investigation was pending, Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti previously confirmed to The Fresno Bee.
Botti said Kue, who was in custody at Fresno County Jail, was found in his cell unresponsive on June 16 and died four days later. He said the death was being investigated as a possible drug overdose.
Kue died at a Fresno hospital after spending some time in a coma, his attorney Jamil Nushwat said Tuesday.
He said Kue’s family was distraught over the loss of their family member and anguished over the victims of the party shooting and the victims’ families.
“The family felt this was an aberration,” Nushwat said. “They’re heartbroken for the victims.”
Nushwat said Kue in the years since the shooting had leaned into religion, seeking forgiveness.
“We really thought he was emotionally dragged into this and a lot of it was forced on him to be part of this,” Nushwat said Tuesday.
Along with Kue, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office has charged Ger Lee, 27; Anthony Montes, 27; and Billy Xiong, 25; with special circumstances murder, conspiracy to commit murder and multiple counts of attempted murder.
Three others indicted federally were Pao Vang, 30; Jhovanny Delgado, 19; and Johnny Xiong, 25.
Federal officials said the men are all members of the Mongolian Boys Society, a street gang active in Fresno and Visalia.
All seven have been accused of planning the shooting as revenge for the death of a gang member’s brother, who was killed earlier the same day.
Family of the victims and law enforcement have said none of the victims at the football party were gang members or had any connection to the shooting they were targeted over.
Killed that night were Kou Xiong, 38; Xy Lee, 23; Kalaxang Thao, 40; and Phia Vang, 31; and six others were injured. They had gathered with friends and family to watch the game on TV at a home in southeast Fresno.
If found guilty, the three remaining defendants being tried in Fresno County Superior Court could receive the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The next hearing is Aug. 22. Attorneys in the courtroom on Tuesday estimated the trial could take as long as nine months.
This story was originally published July 9, 2024 at 11:01 AM.
