Suspect in West Salem quarry murders from 2021 to be tried this month for the second time

A jury pool of 100 people will be called to La Crosse County court on Monday, for the second murder trial of Nya Thao. 

The Onalaska man is charged with the shooting deaths of three men in the summer of 2021, at a quarry near West Salem. 

The 36-year-old Thao was tried for the murders in June of 2023, but the jury in that case was unable to agree on a verdict after 10 hours of deliberation. Two weeks have been set aside for the retrial before Judge Elliott Levine, with jury selection happening Monday, followed by opening arguments on Tuesday. 

Peng Lor, Trevor Mahoney, and Nemo Yang were shot to death in July of 2021, in an alleged dispute over a $600 debt. Nya Thao is suspected of being the shooter, while a second suspect, Khamthaneth Rattanasack, was accused of ordering the murders. Rattanasack pled guilty to a murder charge, and was sentenced last January to life in prison, with a possibility of release after 35 years.