Man Convicted in 2022 Murder of Aurora Burmese Restaurant Owner Ma Kaing

Lu Reh faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he’s sentenced on May 2.

February 7, 2025

Ma Kaing was killed by a stray bullet in the East Colfax neighborhood in 2022. Michelle Christiansen Photography

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On February 6, a Denver jury yesterday convicted Lu Reh of first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder for an incident in which a beloved local restaurant owner was killed.

Prosecutors had charged Reh and three other defendants in connection with the July 2022 shooting at a park in the 1300 block of Xenia Street. A stray bullet from that shooting struck and killed 42-year-old Ma Kaing, who was unloading groceries in front of her apartment building.

Now Reh faces life in prison without the possibility of parole; he'll be sentenced on May 2.

“Ma Kaing was an important and beloved member of her community, and her murder was an unspeakable tragedy,” District Attorney John Walsh said in a statement. “With this verdict, Lu Reh will now pay a heavy price for his senseless actions, which have caused so much harm.”

Ma Kaing, a 42-year-old mother and entrepreneur, was a cherished member of the East Colfax community, where she owned Taw Win, the Thai and Burmese restaurant she opened in 2020 at 1120 Yosemite Street. Following her death, it closed temporarily but was reopened by her family several weeks later and continues to serve the community.

Kaing was also involved in the East Colfax Neighborhood Association and helped establish the East Colfax Food Bank at Counterpath.

Two of the other defendants had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The fourth defendant's trial is set for July.

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