A new mass shooting in the US has left multiple people dead, and others wounded after shooters opened fire at a backyard football watch party in Fresno, California.
The motive of the attack is still not clear, and it is not known if the shooters were related to their victims in any way. A special Asian gang task force was announced after the Sunday shooting.
Current reports indicate that four people were killed, while six others were heavily wounded in the attack. Police are still investigating the situation and reportedly have not made any arrests yet.
Fresno Deputy Police Chief Michael Reed said: “It’s very likely that it was targeted — we just don’t know why. Somebody picked that house and came up and shot several times on the backside of it. It looks like there was a target.”
Xy Lee, a popular 23-year-old Hmong singer, was identified as a victim of the Fresno shooting.
Hmong radio host Moua Vang said the following on his radio show: “He was very well known in the community because he’s local and he’s a very nice guy. He had such a wonderful voice, and his lovely music touches everybody’s heart.”
One person reacted to the tragedy by saying: “How very sad my thoughts and heart reach out to his family and all that loved him.”
A second observer brought up the gang theory that is being pushed in some corners: “I read that there is no indication that any of the victims were gang-affiliated, but that they believe the perpetrators were.”
Hmong leaders have rejected the gang connection. Community leader Bobby Bliatout explained: “A lot of times we get painted … as gang members. I can say 100% that people that were there, that were having this (party) and hosted this, are not affiliated with gangs and should not be painted that way.”
Another Hmong singer named JV Vang was also injured during the shooting.
Kalaxang Thao, 40, Kou Xiong, 38, and Phia Vang, 31, are the three other victims that were identified by the authorities.
The attack is more unusual than the typical mass shootings that have occurred lately, in that the killers targeted a closed, private event instead of opening fire on a public gathering.
Many suspect that the attackers knew their victims in some capacity, but the exact details of the situation remain unclear.
Authorities have urged locals to be vigilant and pay attention to their surroundings, warning of further possible attacks in the coming days.
Very little information has been released about the case so far, and it seems like investigators are trying to keep things under wraps for the most part.
Police have been avoiding most questions regarding the identities of the attackers, and it is not even clear if they have made any identifications so far.
Reports from residents indicate that this is not the first similar attack in recent times, and many people have grown worried about their situation, fearing to be outside after dark. Some have even reported making plans to move away.
