Suspect says hunters provoked him
Vang says he was surrounded, called names and shot at before shootings
By JOHN DIEDRICH, LEE BERGQUIST and TOM HELD

Posted: Nov. 23, 2004
Hayward - The suspect arrested for shooting eight hunters, killing six
of them, says he was surrounded by the group, called derogatory racial
names and shot at before he opened fire, according to court records
released today.

Northwoods Shootings

Suspect


Chai Soua Vang, 36, of St. Paul, Minn., is suspected of shooting eight
hunters, killing six of them.


Suspect's Statement

Court document (pdf): Probable cause statement, including interview
with suspect (Note: Some obscenities expunged)


Recent Coverage

11/21/04: 5 killed, 3 hurt in hunting rampage
11/22/04: 6th victim dies from Sunday's shooting
11/22/04: Alleged shooter was avid hunter
11/22/04: Victims gathered at deer camp every year
Video: TMJ4 reports



Graphic/Enrique Rodriguez
What happened


Victims Fund

A fund has been set up for the families of the victims and survivors
of the shooting. Donations may be sent to:
Rice Lake Hunters Survivors and Victims Fund
Dairy State Bank
16 S. Main St.
Rice Lake, WI 54868

The account from Chai Soua Vang to investigators differs sharply from
details released Monday by the Sheriff's Department and from the
accounts of the victims, who describe an essentially unprovoked
shooting rampage by Vang, a 36-year-old Hmong man from St. Paul, Minn.

Vang, a truck driver, is suspected in the slayings of six hunters and
the wounding of two others, according to a probable cause
determination signed by Circuit Judge Norman L. Yackel here this
morning.

Vang is being held on $2.5 million cash bail. His next court date is
expected to be Nov. 30.

The document gives two versions of events that differ on key facts
such as who shot first, how many guns the group had and what was said,
or not said, between Vang and the group.

Vang gave this account to investigators, according to the document:

Vang said that he was hunting on private land, got lost and climbed up
an empty tree stand. After 15 minutes, another hunter confronted him.

Vang said that he responded that he didn't know it was private land
and didn't see any "no trespassing" signs. Vang said he got down and
started to walk away and then heard the other hunter call over his
walkie-talkie. Two all-terrain vehicles carrying five or six men
quickly arrived.

The group surrounded him, called him racially derogatory names and
ordered him off the land. Only one in the group had a gun, Vang said.
Someone wrote down Vang's hunting license number and said law
enforcement would be called.

Vang said he started walking away and saw the man with the rifle take
it off his shoulder. Vang said he looked back again, when he was about
100 feet from the group, and the armed man was pointing the rifle at
him.

Then, Vang said, he dropped to a a crouch position and the man fired a
shot at him, hitting the ground 30 to 40 feet behind Vang.

Vang said he took off the scope of his SKS semi-automatic rifle and
fired two shots at the armed man, who dropped.

The other unarmed hunters ran and Vang fired, with two or three men
dropping, he said. Two other men ran toward the cabin, about a
quarter-mile away, and Vang said he chased one, who was yelling, "Help
me. Help me." Vang said he got within 20 feet and shot the man in the
back.

Vang said he walked up to the man who groaned. Vang then walked away.
Investigators believe that was 20-year-old Joey Crotteau, who died at
the scene.

Vang heard one of the men call on a walkie-talkie, saying "We've been
shot and need help."

Vang reversed his blaze orange vest to a camouflage and reloaded his
20-round magazine with five or six bullets. Vang said he saw three
more men arrive on an ATV but didn't shoot at them because they had
rifles. The men spent a short time with the wounded and then left,
Vang said.

Another ATV arrived with two people on it - Jessica Willers and Al
Laski - one of whom had a gun, Vang said. Authorities said Monday
Willers and Laski arrived at the scene unarmed.

Vang said he ran and the ATV drove by him. When they saw him, Vang
said, the ATV stopped. He said Laski removed his gun from his
shoulder. Vang said he fired three or four times and both people fell
off the ATV.

Vang ran back to the original shooting scene, saw one of the victims
standing and said, "You're not dead yet?" and fired one more shot.

Vang said he didn't want to shoot anyone else and threw away his
ammunition.

Authorities said only one rifle was found at the scene of the
shooting.

Lauren Hesebeck, injured in the shooting, gave a different account to
investigators. According to that account:

Terry Willers confronted Vang for trepassing and called his friends.
Robert Crotteau, Joey Crotteau, Hesebeck, Dennis Drew and Mark Roidt
arrived on ATVs. There was another verbal exchange.

Vang started to walk away and at 40 yards, took the scope off his gun,
turned and started firing on the group, Hesebeck said. Willers shot
back and then was hit and went down, he said.

Vang then shot and hit Drew and Roidt. Hesebeck said he attempted to
hide behind the ATV. Vang moved around it and shot Hesebeck in the
shoulder, Hesebeck said.

Vang chased Robert and Joe Crotteau who ran and shot them. Hesebeck
called for help. Other men arrived and took Willers away. Hesebeck
said he saw another ATV approach and heard more gunshots.

Officials said the Wisconsin Attorney General's Office will prosecute
the case, because of its scope and complexity.

Meanwhile, the two survivors continued to improve, officials said.

Willers was upgraded from serious to fair at St. Joseph's Hospital in
Marshfield today.

Hesebeck was released from the hospital Monday night before 9 p.m.

Theresa Hesebeck, also the sister of Denny Drew, who died Monday
night, said the family was trying to regroup on Tuesday morning and
that her husband was recovering at home.

"Your place is at home at a time like this," she said.

The couple have a blended family that includes seven children.

David Drew, a brother of Denny Drew, said Tuesday he was trying to
come to grips with the death of his brother and close friends.

A prayer vigil is set for 7 tonight at the Holy Trinity Catholic
Church in Haugen, where three of the victims lived.

Complete coverage of this story will appear online later today and in
the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in the morning.