Family of hunter fatally shot in Bath Township to push for 'Orange Justice' at Capitol

LANSING -- The family of a Lansing man who was shot and killed last month while hunting on public land in Bath Township has more to say about his death and is planning to hold a candlelight vigil at the state Capitol. 

The vigil is called "Orange Justice" and will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at 110 N. Capitol Ave.

Joseph Yang, a family spokesperson, said Monday the family will provide more details about the investigation at the vigil and give people the opportunity to "visually show their support." 

Joseph Yang said he's hopeful he will get copies of Chong Moua Yang's autopsy report from Bath Township police before Thursday's vigil and photos of the area where the 68-year-old's body was found.

"We want to curb any types of rumors or assumptions about what happened," Joseph Yang said.

Chong Yang appeared to have been fatally shot the evening of Nov. 16 while hunting deer on public land in the township, police said.

Police said Yang was wearing hunter's orange clothing and was found along the 8500 block of East Clark Road, near Upton Road, shortly after 10 p.m. that day.

Police found Chong Yang's body without his firearm and backpack.

Chong Yang's family initially thought his death was an accident, but "the pendulum is begging to swing the other way," said Joseph Yang, also a Lansing attorney. 

"We'll address that in our statement (on Thursday)," he said. 

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The property where Chong Yang was found is owned by the state of Michigan and authorized for hunting, police said.

Police were dispatched to the area Nov. 16 after Chong Yang's family members called 911 concerned that he had not returned home and may have suffered a heart attack. 

Messages left Monday morning with Avery Lyon, Bath Township police's public information officer, weren't returned. 

Anyone with information about Chong Yang's death is asked to call Det. Bryan Miller at 517-641-6271 or central dispatch at 989- 224-6792.

Information can also be sent anonymously to the police department's Facebook page, facebook.com/BathTownshipPolice.

Chong Yang came to Lansing as a refugee, worked as a custodian at North Grand River Co-Op and lived with his wife near Capital Region International Airport. 

In addition to Yang's wife, he's survived by four daughters, five sons, three daughters-in-law, two sons-in-law, eight grandsons and six granddaughters. 

The family has set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money for a reward leading to the arrest of the person or people who killed Yang. For information, visit https://bit.ly/2DNHK9m. 

Services for Yang

Chong Yang's funeral and a celebration of his life will be held Saturday through Monday at Chisholm Hills Golf Club, 2395 Washington Road, in Lansing.

Burial will follow noon Monday at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing, 4444 W Grand River Ave. All services are open to the public. 

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.