This story originally aired on Oct. 26, 2024. It was updated on Aug. 9, 2025.
It was a week before Christmas in 2022, when Saint Paul, Minnesota, police officer Ching Vang and his partner Officer Justina Hser set off on their regular patrol of the city.
Natalie Morales | “48 Hours” contributor: The overnight hours, it’s December 16th, 2022. What time do you get that call?
Officer Ching Vang: On that night, the call came in around 2:50.
Officer Ching Vang: … dispatcher stated that a female was shot in the head. … my partner and I, we went lights and sirens heading towards that call.
Natalie Morales: And is it … all units in the vicinity called in at that time?
Officer Ching Vang: Yes. … pretty much, every unit hop on that call to come and assist.
Within minutes Vang, Hser, and several other officers — body cameras rolling — arrived at the location, a residential apartment building. Matthew Ecker, the man who had placed the 911 call, let them in and directed them to an apartment on the second floor.
Vang was the first to enter the apartment.
Officer Ching Vang: I remember walking in, the bathroom was to the right, the very first door.
ALEX PENNIG’S DEATH INVESTIGATION BEGINS
Alex Pennig, 32, was lying face up with a single gunshot wound to her left temple.
Officer Ching Vang: I noticed … a lot of blood around her head.
Vang had immediately spotted the gun laying on Alex’s left shoulder; her hand resting on top. A team of officers looked around the small studio apartment and questioned neighbors. No one had heard anything.
In the hallway, Hser was talking to Ecker.
OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): (to Ecker) You got to keep breathing. You got to keep breathing.
Officer Justina Hser: He was … on the floor by himself. So, I just went and approached him and just started talking to him.
Ramsey County District Court 
MATTHEW ECKER (police bodycam): Oh God, why’d she do that? (sobbing)
Natalie Morales: Were you concerned about him?
Officer Justina Hser: I was. … because at the time we didn’t know what was going on …
OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): I know it’s shocked. I know it’s hard.
Officer Justina Hser: I just told him to just slow down. Take your time. We’re not in a rush, whenever you’re ready, I’m — I’m ready to listen.
Ecker did eventually calm down and he started talking —
OFFICER HSER (police bodycam): Were you guys arguing or…
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