Hmong mass shooting suspect pleads not guilty

A suspect in the mass shooting at a Hmong New Year celebration in Tulsa had an arraignment Monday, and entered a plea of not guilty.

Boonmlee Lee, 21, was originally scheduled for arraignment Nov. 12 but court records indicate he didn't have an attorney at the time.

His arraignment was moved to Monday, but is now scheduled for Dec. 3.

The other suspect, Meng Lee, 19, wass arraigned that day and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 3.

Both men face five counts each of assault and battery with a deadly weapon and one count each of shooting with intent to kill.

The gunfire Oct. 13 threw a large celebration into chaos and left five people wounded Saturday night in east Tulsa.

It happened about 8:00 p.m. at the Green Country Event Center in the 12000 block of E. 31st St., near Garnett.

Police say 400 people, most members of the Xiong Clan of Hmong, had gathered to celebrate a clan reunion and the upcoming Hmong New Year.

Two people were hit in the torso; three others received gunshot wounds to the arms and legs.

A police helicopter was nearby at the time, and quickly responded.

They spotted the suspected getaway car, and directed ground units to it.

Officers recovered a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun and dark clothing they say the suspects threw from their car as they fled.

Detectives tell KRMG the shootings resulted from a dispute within the Hmong community. Both suspects and all five victims are ethnic Hmong.