An American comedian and activist was kidnapped and stabbed to death more than a dozen times by a group of men after going on a date with a woman he met online while on vacation in Colombia.
Tou Ger Xiong, 50, an Asian-American living in Minnesota, was on vacation in the South American country when her heartbreaking death occurred.
Xiong arrived in Medellín on November 29 with plans to spend the holiday season with family, before he came into contact with a woman he met on social media.
He had planned to meet the mysterious woman on December 10 but was attacked and kidnapped by a group of men.
At around 7pm local time, the comedian had called a friend in Colombia saying the man had asked for $2,000 (8 million Colombian Pesos) in cash for his release, according to local newspaper El Colombiano.
Xiong also told his friend, who filed a police report, that he was “held at gunpoint,” according to KSTP.
Hours earlier, police were at the apartment where Xiong lived because a woman took items from the residence, and fled before police could arrest her, officials told the outlet.
Tou Ger Xiong, 50, an Asian-American living in Minnesota, was on vacation in the South American country when her heartbreaking death occurred. Tou Ger Xiong / Facebook
Xiong’s body was found lying in La Corcovado gorge with more than a dozen stab wounds and several bruises from falling more than 60 feet, according to El Colombiano.
Local law enforcement confirmed the suspect killed Xiong before the payment was made, and an investigation was opened to determine whether Xiong’s death was the result of an escape attempt.
One of the suspected kidnappers has already been arrested, according to Xiong’s brother.
“They found some clothes, blood, you know, on the bag, and they were able to seize it and arrest one of the suspects,” Eh Xiong told KSTP.
Xiong’s body was found lying in La Corcovado gorge with more than a dozen stab wounds and several bruises from falling from a height of more than 60 feet. CBS Xiong was killed before the ransom payment was made, and an investigation was opened to determine whether Xiong’s death was caused by an escape attempt. CBS Xiong’s brother confirmed that one of the suspected kidnappers was arrested by the police in Colombia. CBS
Eh Xiong said he has not fully grasped the reality that his brother died.
“It’s kind of funny how I don’t feel like he’s really gone anymore. Really? I think any moment now he can knock on the door,” he said.
Xiong traces his ancestry to the Hmong people, an indigenous group from East and Southeast Asia and was valedictorian at Humboldt High School.
He was born in Laos in 1973, while his father worked with the CIA before fleeing to a refugee camp in Thailand to escape the communist takeover of Laos in 1975.
The comedian will travel the country to “share his personal story to build cultural competence and address racial discrimination.’ Tou Ger Xiong / Facebook
He then migrated to St. Paul in 1992, according to his website.
The comedian will “share his personal story across the country to build cultural competence and address racial discrimination,” the Bush Foundation said when Xiong was named a 2019 fellow.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy. Tou Ger is an extraordinary person who is always working to improve her community,” US Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) said in a statement to KSTP.
Xiong traces her ancestry to the Hmong people, an indigenous group from East and Southeast Asia and is a guidance counselor at Humboldt High School. Tou Ger Xiong / Facebook
“My office is in contact with Tou Ger’s family and the embassy in Colombia as they work to bring his body back to Minnesota. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
