Share and Follow
Background: News footage of the home of Lue Yang and Se Vang, who were killed by their teenage son on Dec. 27, 2023 (KFSN). Inset: Lue Yang and Se Vang (GoFundMe).
A teenager from California has confessed to killing his parents and attempting to murder his sister, resulting in a six-year custodial sentence.
The 16-year-old, whose identity has been withheld due to his minor status, faced a juvenile court on Wednesday to receive his sentence. He was found guilty of the murders of his parents, Lue Yang and Se Vang, both 37, and the attempted murder of his sister, who was 11 at the time. The incident left his then-7-year-old brother unharmed at their residence in Miramonte, located in California’s Central Valley.
As reported by KFSN, a local affiliate of ABC, the boy, aged 14 at the time, initially contacted 911 on December 27, 2023, claiming an intruder had entered their home. However, police revealed that about a week later, he confessed to fabricating the story and admitted to committing the killings himself.
In a press conference held soon after the tragic events, Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni stated that the teen had “fabricated” the narrative given during the 911 call and had used “multiple weapons” in the assault on his family members. The underlying motive for the violent acts was not disclosed to the public.
Due to the perpetrator’s age, the Fresno County District Attorney prosecuted the case in juvenile court, which resulted in many details remaining confidential. California law mandates that individuals under the age of 16 cannot be tried as adults.
The maximum sentence the teen could receive was seven years in juvenile custody. The judge sentenced the teen to six years, meaning he will walk free when he is 22 years old.
KFSN was in the courtroom for the sentencing, during which one of the teenager’s teachers told the court that the convicted killer was a “straight-A student,” and said, “I really like the kid.”
Family members of the slain couple set up a GoFundMe after the crime that is still raising money to support the two orphaned, surviving siblings.
Â