Everything to Know About the Police Killing of Yia Xiong
On February 12th, St. Paul Police responded to a report that there was a man threatening residents in the community room of an apartment complex. Officers Abdirahman Dahir and Noushue Cha approached Yia Xion, a 65 -year-old Hmong man who was holding a traditional Hmong knife, in the hallway leading to his apartment door. The officers ordered him to drop his knife , but Xiong spoke limited English and, according to relatives, was almost fully deaf. Xiong entered his apartment but officers stopped the door from shutting and demanded he come back out into the hallway. Xiong stepped into the hallway, with his knife, and was immediately Tased by Officer Cha and shot by Officer Dahir with a rifle. First responders provided aid but Xiong died at the scene. Body cam footage was released of the incident. The officers are on standard leave following the killing.
REMEMBERING YIA XIONG
Yia Xiong was a military veteran who served in the Vietnam War, fighting in the U.S. Secret War in Laos, where he lost his hearing. His family was helping him to get hearing aids. Xiong was dedicated to his wife, children, grandchildren, and his brothers and sisters— many of whom flew to St. Paul for a press conference earlier this week demanding justice and accountability for Xiong’s murder. The Hmong community has come out in support of Xiong as well. According to the family’s GoFundMe page, Xiong “had a gentle soul and was a pillar of support for his family.”
ABOUT THE OFFICERS
Officer Abdirahman Dahir was one of two officers on the scene during the incident. According to the BCA, he has one year of law enforcement experience. During the incident, Dahir was carrying an AR-15. When Xiong came back into the hallway, per the officers’ orders, Dahir shot him. At the same time, Officer Cha fired a Taser at Xiong.
The other officer on the scene, Noushue Cha, graduated from the St. Paul Police Academy last February, and also has one year of law enforcement experience. He was in a special program focusing on adding diverse recruits to the force—specifically people from communities that are underrepresented in the SPPD and those who speak more than one language. Cha is part of the Hmong community. Xiong’s family now wants to know why, during the deadly interaction with Xiong, Cha did not speak to him in Hmong—even when it became clear Xiong did not speak English. Instead, Officer Cha Tased Xiong.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Call Ramsey County District Attorney John Choi. Demand Officers Abdirahman Dahir and Noushue Cha are fired and held responsible for their roles in Yia Xiong’s death.
District Attorney John Choi / Ph: (651) 266-3222
Support Xiong‘s family by contributing to their GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-yia- xiong
Don’t share the video footage of Xiong’s death. Instead, share information about the case and the fight for justice