A shocking act of revenge stemming from a two-decade-old family feud in a small Chinese village culminated in a fatal shooting in Brooklyn. Authorities detailed how a wedding celebration became the backdrop for a calculated murder, leaving a 68-year-old man dead in a Sunset Park Popeye’s restaurant.
Wu Long Chen, 45, a former Chinese military veteran, allegedly spotted Yingguan Chen, the patriarch of the family against whom he harbored deep-seated resentment, at a wedding in Brooklyn. Driven by years of simmering anger, Wu Long Chen reportedly followed Yingguan Chen after the celebration. In a chilling sequence of events, he allegedly shot Yingguan Chen in the head inside a Popeye’s fried chicken establishment on December 7th, leaving him to die.
Eyewitness accounts paint a tragic scene. Yingguan Chen, before succumbing to his injuries, repeatedly cried out in Mandarin, “I’m going to die; I’m going to die,” as he collapsed onto the floor of the fast-food restaurant. The motive behind this brutal act traces back to a trivial dispute over garbage disposal in China twenty years prior, highlighting the devastating consequences of unresolved conflicts.
According to Yingguan Chen’s daughter, Vicki, the animosity originated from a neighborly disagreement. “The killer and my father were neighbors in China about 20 years ago,” she explained to The Post. “They got into arguments because he would throw trash into my father’s yard.” What began as a minor neighborhood squabble escalated over time, even after Yingguan Chen relocated to America, seeking a peaceful life far from the old conflict. “My father had no idea,” stated Gary Chen, Yingguan Chen’s son, emphasizing his father’s unawareness of the festering grudge.
The situation intensified in China, leading to physical confrontation and intervention from local authorities. Gary Chen recounted, “The killer brought his many brothers over and tried to intimidate our family. The killer was pushing our mother around and hurt her arm. It got violent and the Chinese government brought the police.” Despite government attempts to mediate, imposing a fine equivalent to $1,000 on each family, the underlying resentment remained unresolved in Wu Long Chen’s mind.
Gary Chen expressed disbelief at the extent of the killer’s grudge. “It’s surprising that this man could hold a grudge and make my father a target,” Gary Chen stated, grappling with the senseless violence. “It’s a complete shock.” Law enforcement officials echoed this sentiment, describing the crime as exceptionally cold-blooded. A law enforcement source commented, “The victim was completely innocent. This was a way for him to exact his revenge.”
Following the shooting, Wu Long Chen attempted to flee the country, seeking refuge in Mexico. However, his escape was thwarted by immigration officers in Laredo, Texas. He was apprehended and subsequently transported back to Brooklyn to face serious charges, including murder and weapons offenses, for this act of vengeance that stretched across continents and decades, leaving a Brooklyn community in shock and a family grieving the loss of Yingguan Chen.
