On the morning of December 7, 2025, 41-year-old Kia A Her died in a harrowing domestic dispute that spiraled into Milwaukee’s latest murder suicide, leaving a community grappling with the fragility of hidden tensions.
Around 3:30 a.m. near North 78th Street and West Silver Spring Drive, her 45 year old partner, Chang Thao, fatally shot her in the head during an escalating argument before turning the weapon on himself, as confirmed by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office. The incident, witnessed by Her’s young child, unfolded in their shared residence, prompting swift police response and underscoring the pervasive threat of intimate partner violence.
Milwaukee Police Department investigators classified the event as a domestic homicide, with no broader public threat identified, though the child’s exposure to the violence has mobilized child welfare services for immediate support. The medical examiner’s autopsy verified Her’s cause of death as a single gunshot wound to the head, ruling it homicide, while Thao’s self inflicted injury closed the immediate chapter of this tragedy.
Born in 1984 in Milwaukee to Hmong immigrant parents who arrived in the 1980s fleeing conflict, Kia embodied the resilience of her heritage, growing up in the city’s north side amid a tight knit Hmong American enclave that shaped her cultural roots. She pursued practical education through Milwaukee Area Technical College, earning a certificate in administrative assistance in 2006, which paved her entry into community focused roles supporting immigrant families.
Kia’s family life centered on nurturing her child, a role she embraced with fierce protectiveness in their modest home, where she instilled values of perseverance drawn from her parents’ journey. Surrounded by siblings and extended kin, she hosted traditional gatherings featuring Hmong dishes like sticky rice and papaya salad, forging bonds that provided solace amid daily challenges.
Professionally grounded yet personally vibrant, Kia’s lifestyle wove disciplined routines with sparks of joy, from early morning walks along the Menomonee River Parkway to evening sewing sessions crafting traditional Hmong embroidery for family gifts. Her hobbies, including tending a small balcony herb garden and volunteering at cultural festivals, revealed a creative spirit that balanced her administrative duties with community ties.
Milwaukee’s response swells with outreach, as domestic violence advocates urge reflection on prevention amid this loss, with Her’s memory honored through quiet calls for safer homes. A private family service is planned for December 14, focusing on healing for her child and loved ones, while donations to Hmong American Women’s Association support similar families.