ST. PAUL, Minn. – Pheng Vang, a 38-year-old man from St. Paul, faces first-degree manslaughter charges following an incident outside a local bar that led to the death of another man. According to court documents, St. Paul police responded to a report at the Far East Bar, where they found an unresponsive man on the sidewalk just before 1 a.m. on March 23. The man was transported to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Witnesses reported that the victim had a confrontation with individuals at a party at the bar. The victim allegedly squared up to fight someone when Vang, dressed in all black, approached and punched him, causing him to fall and sustain fatal head injuries.
Surveillance footage and witness statements led investigators to identify Vang as the suspect. Vang admitted to police that he struck the victim in an attempt to defuse the situation, believing he was defending a relative involved in the altercation. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled the victim’s death a homicide due to a closed head injury. Vang’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 11.