Chico man accused of killing his wife appears before judge
Accused man doesn’t enter plea; will return to court Oct. 11
A Chico man appeared in Butte County Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon to face a partial arraignment on charges of first-degree murder a week earlier, according to a press release.
John Waveng Her, 53, did not enter a plea on murder charges with the use of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited from doing so. Her is accused of shooting his wife of 30 years, Xe Lor, in north Chico on Sept. 27.
Instead, Her requested a public defender; he will return to court Oct. 11 for full arraignment.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the shooting occurred in the driveway of a family member’s home in the 2700 block of White Ave. in Chico. Her, and Lor, his wife of 30 years, had gathered with family members to discuss the couple’s separation and possible divorce.
According to the press release, Lor was leaving the meeting when Her pulled a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol from under his jacket and shot Lor twice at close range in the driveway. Her then attempted to shoot himself in the head with the pistol but the bullet only grazed the top and side of his head.
Her fell to the ground, but maintained control of the gun and shot his wife — who was lying on the ground — at least twice more. Family members ran to Lor’s aid, took Her’s gun from him and held him until Chico Police Department officers arrived.
Paramedics took Lor to Enloe Medical Center, where she died from her wounds a short time later.
Her also went to Enloe, where he spent four days receiving treatment for his head wound. When he had sufficiently recovered, the hospital discharged him; police then arrested him and booked him into the Butte County Jail, where he remains.
Police investigators collected surveillance video that showed a large portion of the incident. During a search of the scene, police found the semi-automatic handgun and five expended .45 casings on the ground.
Ramsey said Her had been convicted for threatening his family in 2021; the conviction resulted in the loss of his right to possess any firearms for 10 years.
Lor had recently moved out of the family home and was petitioning the Butte County Superior Court for a temporary domestic violence restraining order just eight days before the shooting. Lor leaves behind seven children, with the youngest only 9 years old.
Ramsey said the investigation is ongoing. Authorities request anyone with information about the case to call Det. Jack Ditty at the Chico Police Department at 530-897-4900.