Kenneth Xiong, a 19-year-old Asian male from Fresno, California, was found fatally shot in Yucaipa on the morning of May 31, 2025. Deputies responding about 6:40 a.m. to the Oak Glen Wash near Avenue D discovered Xiong suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators treated the death as a homicide and sought to determine where the shooting occurred, who Xiong had been with, and what led to his death.

The investigation led to two arrests: Dennis Wright, 21, of Yucaipa, was arrested on June 1 on suspicion of murder; Kyle Heller, 20, of Yucaipa, was arrested on June 4. Authorities announced both faced murder charges; inmate records at the time showed Wright held on $2 million bail and Heller held without bail. Officials did not publicly announce a motive or explain how Xiong came to be in the Oak Glen Wash area with or near the accused.

Later reporting indicated Xiong served as a Private First Class and Bradley fighting vehicle crewmember in the U.S. Army, and that those arrested were also described as having military associations, though the Sheriff’s Department had not publicly established the precise relationships. Xiong’s family and fellow service members held a funeral with military involvement in the Fresno area in August 2025. If anyone has information about Xiong’s killing, contact the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Specialized Investigations Division.