Wausau woman identified as victim in fatal shooting, suspect held on $1M bond

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - The Wausau Police Department has identified a weekend homicide victim as Mai Rue Vang. Police said the victim also went by the first name Lily. She was found with a fatal gunshot wound at her Wausau apartment early Sunday morning.

Umberto Lo, 24, appeared in court Monday afternoon for a probable cause hearing. Investigators said he’s responsible for Vang’s murder. He remains in custody on a $1 million cash bond.

“The defendant indicated to that family member that he had shot the victim. He provided that family member with a Facebook Messenger picture of the victim in which it depicted her with the gunshot wound to the head,” said Marathon County District Attorney Theresa Wetzsteon.

Lo was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Sunday at home on the 1300 block of N. 9th Avenue in Wausau. According to police, Lo and the victim knew each other.

His attorney Julie Sawyer said competency is an issue.

“There are serious questions as to Mr. Lo’s competency. That matter has been raised in the pending cases. And based on my current conversation with Mr. Lo this morning, I would raise it again here,” Sawyer said. “He does not seem to understand the process, the participants or the consequences.”

Wetzsteon said Lo was out of custody on bond at the time he allegedly committed the murder, citing a reason for a high-cash bond.

“He had most recently appeared in court on March 8, and received a $2,000 cash bond at that time. That was in addition to the $1,000 he had already posted in the previous bonds. He had a non-waivable no contact with this particular victim,” she said.

Online records show three of Lo’s open criminal cases are related to domestic abuse allegations. The cases are filed separately, but a consolidated competency hearing is scheduled for March 26.

He is being held on charges of first-degree intentional homicide and felony bail jumping. He’s expected to be formally charged March 26.

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