Brooklyn Park Man Pleads Guilty in Deadly Shooting with Children Nearby

A Brooklyn Park man will be sentenced in January after admitting to killing a man at a backyard birthday celebration with young children nearby.

Lue Chang, 32, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder.

According to the criminal complaint:

Chang fired multiple shots that killed 34-year-old Nichanon Kittikroekphon, 34, of Coon Rapids. The shooting happened at a home in the 8400 block of Adair Avenue N. on Saturday, Sept. 21.

A witness told police he was in the back yard playing cornhole with family when he heard three shots. He saw Chang then fire an additional shot to the back of the victim, who was seen on surveillance video attempting to crawl away.

On the last shot, the video showed a small child, possibly 2 years old, standing approximately a foot away from the victim, the complaint read.

The witness and others at the gathering jumped on Chang to detain him and get the firearm away.

When asked why he shot the victim, Chang told a witness “because he disrespected me.”

Brooklyn Park police said the suspect and victim were relatives.

Chang is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9.

A court petition filed to enter a guilty plea shows that prosecutors will seek a sentence of 25 1/2 years. The maximum sentence for second-degree murder is 40 years.

Brooklyn Park