ROSEVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) – Roseville Police have identified the two men involved in a murder-suicide that happened Thursday afternoon.
Police say 44-year-old Cheng Vang from Roseville shot and killed his wife’s co-worker – 33-year old Joseph Yang from Brooklyn Park – before turning the gun on himself.
The incident happened at 4:15 p.m. in the parking lot of CPI Card Group in the 1900 block of West County Road B2, where Cheng’s wife, Yong Vang, worked with Yang.
Police say Cheng Vang had arranged to meet with Joseph Yang in a parking lot behind CPI. When the Vangs arrived, Cheng got out of his car to meet with Joseph – and then shot him several times with a semi-automatic gun, killing Yang.
Investigators say Cheng was holding a pen and documents before he fired. Moments later, he turned the gun on himself and fired a single, fatal shot.
Yong Vang wasn’t injured in the shooting, and is cooperating with police. Investigators say she is not considered a suspect or accomplice in Yang’s homicide.
Preliminary interviews with family, friends and co-workers have found that Cheng Vang may have believed that his wife was having an extramarital affair with Yang, and Thursday’s meeting may have been a ploy to lure him under the guise of signing documents.
Investigators say the gun found next to Cheng’s body was legally purchased in May 2013.
Police declined to comment on camera, but say it’s Roseville’s first murder-suicide case in years.
