Dad-to-Be Allegedly Shot Dead by Cousin at Celebration for Births in the Family

Nichanon Kittikroekphon was allegedly trying to crawl away from the shooter during a family celebration when he was shot a third time, authorities say

A rising Thai musician who was expecting a child with his wife was fatally shot, allegedly by his cousin, during a family gathering in Minnesota over the weekend, authorities say.

Nichanon Kittikroekphon, 34, died from multiple gunshot wounds on Saturday, Sept. 21, following the shooting in a Brooklyn Park, Minn., home, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said in a release.

Lue Chang, 32, was arrested in connection with the shooting, Brooklyn Park police confirm to PEOPLE.

Brooklyn Park police responded to a report of a shooting on Saturday evening and found the victim suffering from serious gunshot injuries, an alert from the department said at the time.

Responding authorities found Kittikroekphon in the backyard suffering from gunshot wounds to his abdomen and back, a Brooklyn Park police spokesperson tells PEOPLE.

Authorities say they soon determined Chang and Kittikroekphon knew each other, and police detained Chang.

Police say Kittikroekphon and Chang were at the residence for a celebration of births in the family. According to witness accounts to police, Kittikroekphon and Chang were speaking in the backyard when Chang allegedly pulled out a gun and began shooting the victim.

Kittikroekphon was trying to crawl away from the suspect when he was allegedly hit a third time, the police spokesperson says.

Several other guests then held Chang down until police arrived, per police.

A witness told police that while he was holding Chang down, he asked the suspect why he carried out the alleged shooting. "Because he disrespected me," Chang allegedly said, the spokesperson tells PEOPLE.

Kittikroekphon was a "a beloved rising star singer from Thailand," his family said in a GoFundMe set up to assist his wife. The fundraiser claims the musician, whose stage name was Tswb Moua, was also expecting a baby in December.

"This precious child will never have the chance to meet her father, who was taken from us far too soon," reads a part of the fundraiser. "Friends and people knew Nichanon described him as 'the calm' and 'the sweetest and most caring person on earth.'"

A separate fundraiser also set up with a similar mission is remembering him for his "warmth, generosity, and genuine spirit."

"Tswb was loved by everyone he met," reads part of the fundraiser. "He will be deeply missed, along with his incredible voice and passion for singing, which resonated with people far and wide."

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Hennepin County jail records show Chang is being held on a second-degree murder charge on a $1 million bond.

His plea and attorney information were not immediately available.

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