DENVER — Two of the four people arrested in the July 2022 killing of a community activist who was struck by a stray bullet pleaded guilty last month, according to a spokesman for the Denver District Attorney's Office.
Nu La and Swa Bay both pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree murder related to the fatal shooting of Ma Kaing on July 13, 2022. Bullets fired from the nearby New Freedom Park struck Kaing who was putting groceries away. She was a board member of the East Colfax Neighborhood Association.
The month after the shooting Denver Police arrested four people:
- Pa Reh
- Nu Ra Ah La
- Swa Bay
- Lu Reh
Pa Reh is due in court on July 15 for an arraignment hearing. Dozens of charges - including first-degree murder - against Nu La and Swa Bay were dismissed as part of their pleas. Sentencing dates have not been set, the Denver DA's office said.
In June, Aurora Police said Lu Reh, now 22, was arrested in connection with a separate fatal shooting that occurred in May 2022 in northwest Aurora - about two months before Kaing was killed. Court records show he faces charges of first-degree murder and assault in that case.
According to Aurora Police, the charges stem from a fatal shooting on May 30, 2022, near the intersection of East 16th Avenue and Alton Street. Around 4:15 p.m., Denver Police responded to the area and found the victim, 44-year-old Ricardo Ryans, in an alley between the 1600 blocks of Willow and Xanthia streets.
He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cases again Lu Reh in both Denver and Aurora are pending. His trial related to Kaing's death is currently set to begin on Aug. 7.
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