Murder Charge In Hmong Hunter's Death

Officials Say Asian-American Was Shot Once, Stabbed Six Times; May Be Bias Crime

(CBS/AP)  A man suspected in the death of a Hmong hunter found earlier this month in a wildlife refuge has been charged with murder, according to court records Tuesday.

Sheriff's deputies arrested James Nichols, 28, of Peshtigo, Wis., after he showed up at a local hospital with a gunshot wound on Jan. 6, a day after the hunter was reported missing.

Messages left for Nichols' public defender, Kent Hoffmann, and his fiancée, Dacia James, were not immediately returned Tuesday.

James, 20, told The Associated Press previously that Nichols said he stabbed Cha Vang after Vang shot at him in the woods.

Vang's family has speculated that his killing was racially motivated.

The attorney general's office said Tuesday that Vang had been shot once with a shotgun and stabbed six times, mainly in the neck. He also had a three to four inch-long wooden stick protruding from his mouth.

Authorities say Nichols changed his story of the events that led to Vang's death. Also, investigators believe that Vang was shot from a closer distance than Nichols claims — and that Vang was turning away when shot.

His wife, Pang Vue, did not return a message left Tuesday. But shortly after his death, she told The Associated Press that he could not have provoked an attack because he did not speak English.

His death rekindled racial tensions in northern Wisconsin, where a Hmong deer hunter from St. Paul, Minn., fatally shot six white hunters two years ago. That hunter claimed one of the victims fired in his direction after they shouted racial epithets. He is serving multiple life terms.

Nichols was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and being a felon in possession of a firearm — all felonies, according to court records posted online.

Nichols was originally held on a parole violation from a burglary conviction. He was released from prison in 2002 after serving time for burglary and criminal damage to property.

The Hmong are an Asian ethnic group who migrated to Southeast Asia in the 18th century. The U.S. recruited the Hmong to fight the communist insurgent in Laos. After the fall that country, many Hmong fled and settled in the United States, mostly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, California and North Carolina.

[loveusa1]

To: hambonehd

I cannot believe you support this criminal Nicole guy to murder another person.

"Nichols was originally held on a parole violation from a burglary conviction. He was released from prison in 2002 after serving time for burglary and criminal damage to property."

You better watch out, he might come after you or your family if you don't put him in jail now. HE'S MURDERER....

FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE HMONG PEOPLE, HMONG PEOPLE ARE SINCERE AND TOTAL POLITE. THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT STILL WELCOME AND TREAT AMERICAN WITH RESPECT AND LOYALTY IS LAOS.

YOU WILL SOON BE OUT OF JOB IF YOU ONLY SPEAK ENGLISH. LIVE HERE SPEAK MULTI LANGUAGES. SOON YOU WILL HAVE TO SPEAK CHINESE OR LOSE YOUR JOB.

JOHN

[rlbloe]

Dear missyX21,
I can understand your grandfather's reasons for not wanting to learn English.
Yes, as one aware of the Hmong's military involvement and promises made, I agree with your grandfather that the Hmong were betrayed by the United States of America.
The great majority of people living in the United States have little or no idea of the contributions of the Hmong during the Nam conflict.
It is somewhat of a "Dark Secret" being kept hidden, but I hope your Hmong spirit will educate the uneducated.
Be proud! Be vocal! Educate them!
Respectfully,
RLBL

[teddebare]

hambodend: There are/were millions of european immigrants, first generation, who never did/will learn english. Is this your personal immigration policy?

Kinda' deadly ain't it. Check your background before promoting such because if it was so you might not be here today.

[missyx21]

Just because he didn't speak english doesn't make it right to kill a man.

My grandpa fought in the Viet Nam war. He fought along side Americans thinking that after the war his family would be safe in America. And when the Americans pulled out my whole family had to live in hiding for years. I was born in 85, it wasn't until 1990 that my whole family came to America. That's three generations later, so till this day my grandpa won't learn English.

How he looks at it, he doesn't want to learn the language of those who betrayed his people. If you don't know yet, there are still Hmong veterans of the war hiding in the mountains of Laos. Americas promise to bring those who will side with Americans during the Viet Nam war is still going unfulfilled after all these years.

No wonder America has so many enemies.

[rillifane]

I agree with RLBL.

Some 40,000 Hmong fought against the Communists in Laos. They were recruited, trained and equiped by the CIA.

When the US pulled out of Indochina it abandoned the Hmong to their fate. As a result, tens of thousands of Hmong men, women and children were massacred by the Communists. Many of the survivors fled to the United States by way of Thailand. Those who remained in Laos continue to be subject to a continuing genocidal war waged by the Laotian government.

The least we owe them is to refrain from snide little remarks about their inability to speak English.

[rlbloe]

Dear Mr. Hambonehd,
The Hmong served honorably for the United States Government in the quasi position of United States Military Members. They earned the right from their service to this country to live in the United States of America and speak whatever langauge that they feel comfortable using.
The Hmong earned the right to reside in the United States because of their heroic actions. Can you say the same for yourself?
Sincerely,
RLBL

[hambonehd]

"she told The Associated Press that he could not have provoked an attack because he did not speak English"

think that could'a had anything to do with it??
Live here.. speak English.