Family members have identified the victim killed in a Valley crime spree as Kha Reh, he was a Burmese refugee in his mid-forties who spent most of his life in a refugee camp in Thailand with little access to health care or education. He wanted to start a new life, and educate his five children, family members said.
Reh received refugee status and moved his family to the United States about three years ago. A couple months ago, they moved from Texas to The Resort apartments off Indian School and 27th Avenue.
Police said Reh was the victim of a robbery. He was on his way to work with two others at around 3 a.m. when police said two black men in a red car tried to rob him. Reh was shot during the robbery. Police said he tried to drive away, but only made it a mile down the road, when he pulled over and died.
At Reh's apartment, refugees from the Burmese community, along with church leaders from several different churches, gathered to offer the family some support.
Pastor Joel Mpabwanimana from the Seventh Day Adventist Church said he showed up to help because he is also a refugee, but from Africa.
"It's very sad. Very, very sad. Personally, I can understand what is happening because that is where I came from, exactly as a refugee, as well, so I can understand this,” Mpabwanimana said.
The Pastor added that those who want to help should contact Catholic Charities in Phoenix. ABC15 has reached out to Catholic Charities to find out whether they are supporting this family. We are still waiting to hear back.
Van Nu, a Burmese family friend, said communicating with the family had been tough because they speak the Karenni language, which many Burmese do not speak.
A Burmese Catholic priest serving at St. Andrews the Apostle in Chandler was also at the apartment providing support.
"She said her husband, Kha Reh, very good man. He has no crime at all before, his family rely on him very much," the priest said.
