LA CROSSE, Wis. — A steady stream of people walked Friday morning on and around the site outside a La Crosse home where, hours earlier, an estranged married couple lay after what authorities said was a murder-suicide.
Family met inside 1900 Sunset Lane with anyone who came in, even strangers. It is protocol in the Hmong community for all to show support in such times, said Thai Vue, executive director of the La Crosse Hmong Mutual Assistance Association.
“This is very painful,” Vue said.
Dang Xiong, 24, shot and killed his wife, 22-year-old Pa Hou Vang of Onalaska, as she got out of her car outside his home about 11 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. They still were married but had been separated.
He then turned the gun on himself, according to La Crosse police. No one knows what led up to the shooting.
“We don’t know if this was a planned murder-suicide or if it was an impulsive action,” Vue said. “Murder-suicides are very rare in the Hmong community � this is not something that happens in Laos.”
A .22-caliber rifle was found under Xiong and several spent shell casings were near the bodies, police report.
Vang was shot in the head, neck and arm, while Xiong had a self-inflicted wound to the head, according to the La Crosse County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The family members who filled Xiong’s home Friday bear the legal and funeral responsibilities as dictated by Hmong culture, Vue said. But funeral planning cannot start until the family has possession of the bodies.
The couple had married about six years earlier and left behind a 1-year-old daughter and sons ages 4 and 5, now being cared for by Vang’s parents.
Vang and Xiong loved each other, but turmoil plagued the marriage. Xiong was paranoid and had mental issues, said his older brother, Doua Xiong, whose wife found the bodies.
“I’m so sorry it happened this way,” he said.
Dang Xiong had threatened to harm his wife, police said, and had physically assaulted her at least once on Feb. 24, 2008.
Vang told officers the assault happened after Dang Xiong became frustrated when a language barrier blocked him from activating a new credit card, according to the complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court. She suggested he use her pin number, but he grew agitated when he realized she would know his code.
Vang said Dang Xiong then grabbed her face with one hand, covering her mouth with his palm while she yelled for help, the complaint stated.
Dang Xiong was charged Feb. 25 with misdemeanor domestic abuse disorderly conduct, but pleaded guilty to an amended charge of ordinance disorderly conduct and was sentenced to time served June 2, 2008.
Family met inside 1900 Sunset Lane with anyone who came in, even strangers. It is protocol in the Hmong community for all to show support in such times, said Thai Vue, executive director of the La Crosse Hmong Mutual Assistance Association.
“This is very painful,” Vue said.
Dang Xiong, 24, shot and killed his wife, 22-year-old Pa Hou Vang of Onalaska, as she got out of her car outside his home about 11 p.m. Thursday, authorities said. They still were married but had been separated.
He then turned the gun on himself, according to La Crosse police. No one knows what led up to the shooting.
“We don’t know if this was a planned murder-suicide or if it was an impulsive action,” Vue said. “Murder-suicides are very rare in the Hmong community � this is not something that happens in Laos.”
A .22-caliber rifle was found under Xiong and several spent shell casings were near the bodies, police report.
Vang was shot in the head, neck and arm, while Xiong had a self-inflicted wound to the head, according to the La Crosse County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The family members who filled Xiong’s home Friday bear the legal and funeral responsibilities as dictated by Hmong culture, Vue said. But funeral planning cannot start until the family has possession of the bodies.
The couple had married about six years earlier and left behind a 1-year-old daughter and sons ages 4 and 5, now being cared for by Vang’s parents.
Vang and Xiong loved each other, but turmoil plagued the marriage. Xiong was paranoid and had mental issues, said his older brother, Doua Xiong, whose wife found the bodies.
“I’m so sorry it happened this way,” he said.
Dang Xiong had threatened to harm his wife, police said, and had physically assaulted her at least once on Feb. 24, 2008.
Vang told officers the assault happened after Dang Xiong became frustrated when a language barrier blocked him from activating a new credit card, according to the complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court. She suggested he use her pin number, but he grew agitated when he realized she would know his code.
Vang said Dang Xiong then grabbed her face with one hand, covering her mouth with his palm while she yelled for help, the complaint stated.
Dang Xiong was charged Feb. 25 with misdemeanor domestic abuse disorderly conduct, but pleaded guilty to an amended charge of ordinance disorderly conduct and was sentenced to time served June 2, 2008.
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