3 brothers shot dead in western Wisconsin

[August 17, 2009]  MENOMONIE, Wis. (AP) -- A gunman opened fire on a group of people outside a trailer home in western Wisconsin, killing three brothers before critically wounding himself, police said Sunday.

Menomonie Police Sgt. Andrew Crouse said a 23-year-old man from St. Paul, Minn. shot and killed the brothers late Saturday and wounded another man in the western Wisconsin trailer park.

The three brothers, all from the Menomonie area, were identified as Toua Kong, 32; Siong Kong, 25; and Seng Kong, 13. The shooting took place in front of the trailer where Siong lived. The two other brothers lived in a different trailer, Crouse said.

Police said the fourth man -- identified as 25-year-old Toua Xiong, of Menomonie -- was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. Xiong is not related to the brothers, police said.

Crouse said the gunman was in critical condition at an area hospital. Police believe he shot the four before turning the gun on himself.

Police recovered a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun believed to be the weapon used in the shooting.

Investigators believe the suspect knew the victims but was not related to them. Authorities do not believe the shooting was gang- or drug-related, although police said they are investigating possible gang affiliations.

Crouse said neighbors in the Menomonie trailer park, located 70 miles east of Minneapolis, were in shock.

"People are upset," he said. "Right now we just want to let the families get together and grieve amongst themselves."

[Associated Press]

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