A Minnesota comedian and activist was kidnapped for ransom and killed after a date with a woman he met online while visiting Colombia.
Tou Ger Xiong, 50, had visited the South American country many times, according to his brother, Eh Xiong.
“He never, ever felt unsafe,” Eh Yiong told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “”It’s almost like a second home. He loved it there.”
According to Colombian newspaper El Colombiano, the Hmong American speaker and activist was kidnapped after the date. A group of men contacted his family and demanded $2,000 but killed him before collecting the money. His body was found Monday near Medellin with multple stab wounds and signs of blunt force trauma.
His brother said that a friend he was staying with in Colombia told them authorities had taken one suspect into custody. Fox News reported that the person arrested was the woman who lured him to the kidnappers.
The US State Department has classified Colombia as a level 3, encouraging Americans to “reconsider travel” because of a rise in kidnappings and other unrest.
“He was aware of it,” Eh Xiong said. “But he’s one of those people who only assumes the best in people.”
Xiong added that the outpouring of support from friends, fans, and politicians has been a comfort to the family, which is working with the State Department and US Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith to repatriate his body.
Tou Ger Xiong has been a good friend of our entire Carter clan since the 90s, before either of us was ever considered a public leader.
If you ever saw a guy dancing at one of my campaign events wearing a James Brown (or Elvis) costume & a permanent laugh, you’ve met Tou Ger. pic.twitter.com/9WF4JWCmI1
— Melvin Carter (@melvincarter3) December 13, 2023
Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter have all expressed their condolences.
“A community leader, accomplished storyteller & comedian, the first Hmong rapper, and an absolute karaoke master in any genre of music. His light enlivened everyone around him,” Carter wrote on Twitter.com.
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[Featured image: Tou Ger Xiong/Facebook]
