WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) — Wilmington Police Chief Ralph Evangelous held a press conference on Thursday to make an announcement about a pending homicide investigation.
Four men and a juvenile were arrested in connection to the death of Zhen Bo Liu, a Wilmington restaurant delivery man who died on June 14.
“He was brutally murdered for no reason what so ever,” Evangelous said. “If you’re going to be involved in this type of activity, we’re going to hunt you down.”
Cornell Dwayne Haugabook Jr., 20, and an unidentified 15-year-old were charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. Marvin Lee White, 18, Manije Daneek Johnson, 16, and Rasheed Ramone Thompson, 16, were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery after over 600 hours of investigation.
Evangelous said the group ordered approximately $48 worth of food, shot Liu, took the food, went back to a house, and then they all sat down to eat together.
“If that’s not cold-blooded, I’ve never seen it,” the WPD chief said. “Seldom do we ever see the victim accosted in such a brutal way.”
District Attorney Ben David said that the case is a priority to his office and that in the state of North Carolina, a 16-year-old is considered an adult. He said a hearing will be held soon to determine if the 15-year-old will be considered an adult.
“It’s a reminder to everyone in this community that crime doesn’t sleep and neither do the men and women of law enforcement when something like this happens,” David said.
A committee of senior prosecutors will determine if the case is death-penalty eligible. David said a 15-year-old is not eligible for the death penalty in North Carolina.
During a hearing held for the juvenile on Friday, Assistant District Attorney Jason Smith said that they learned through interviewing the suspects that the 15-year-old shot Liu in the foot and Haugabook shot him in the face. They also learned that two different weapons were used.
When the two shooters left the scene, the three other men came back, went through Liu’s vehicle and took the food, Smith said. Judge J.H. Corpening said that the 15-year-old can’t face capital punishment, but that he can spend the rest of his life in prison. He will stay in secured custody until a probable cause hearing on July 3.
Haugabook had his first court appearance at 11 a.m. on Friday. When the judge asked him if he understood the seriousness of the death penalty, Haugabook said yes. He was not given a bond and will make his next appearance on July 12.
Haugabook spent four years in jail for armed burglary and grand theft, according to the Florida Department of Corrections. He was released last February.
The other three men involved in the case will appear at 2 p.m. on Friday.
Detectives notified the Chinese embassy of the murder, which is where Liu’s family is located.
According to 911 calls, witnesses found Liu’s Honda Liu in the middle of the road with the door open. The caller said that he was bleeding from the neck and it looked like he may have been stabbed.
Most people who live and work in the area knew Liu as China King’s delivery driver. Several folks stopped by the restaurant the day after he died.
Patrick Piner used to work with Liu at another Chinese Restaurant a few years ago. He said most people there called him Shi-Fu.
“He was just a hard worker you know. He did a lot of the stuff in the kitchen and everything else. He was very reliable,” Piner said.
Following the police department’s announcement and arrests, the manager of Liu’s former place of employment China King spoke out. Ting Cheng said he feels “happy” and “relieved” to hear that arrests were made.
Cheng said he still doesn’t understand why the suspects allegedly killed one of his closest friends and co-workers for no apparent reason. He said it has been a very emotional time for everyone at China King.
Cheng said he hopes that the police will continue to follow the case because, despite the arrests, he still feels like justice should be served.
Cheng also said that China King no longer delivers at all following Liu’s death.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600.
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If Oblamer had …
If Oblamer had sons…
Well, atleast homey …
Well, atleast homey didn’t shoot the Chinese food and EAT the delivery man!
It’s not racist to …
It’s not racist to recognize the truth:Young black men commit violent crimes in disproportionately LARGE numbers. Jessie J. once said if he were walking in DC at night and heard footsteps behind him, he’d be relieved if they were white. Black cabbies (also in DC) are reluctant to pick up young black males. Profiling? You’re right..with good reason.
Will Jackson, Sharpton, Obama,or the national media make an issue out of this story ? I don’t think so!
Were gonna eat your …
Were gonna eat your face period
stop being so naive …
stop being so naive and lazy, the crime stats are everywhere, go look them up now. Also, being informed doesn’t mean you have to be racist, but feel free to draw your own conclusion. well, if libtards can buy into that “race doesn’t exist” bs, numbers probably don’t mean much to them anyways and I really shouldn’t waste my breath explaining they won’t understand, since stupid can’t be fixed.
If Obama had a son …
If Obama had a son he’d look these niglets.
There’s a …
There’s a devastating economic collapse coming – best advice is to be as far away as possible from black savages when it happens. Let them burn each other out when they go ape because the food stores are empty.
What a f u vc king …
What a f u vc king savage filthy Niggs. Send those monkeys to a death row as soon as possible.
another thing bruh …
another thing bruh what about that wiki leak that came out some years back about the soldiers overseas rapeing and killing men women and children……..white people did that back in vietnam and not to mention slavery but hey its the internet right say whatever you want remember bruh you reep what you Sow nigga
see the thing is …
see the thing is bruh if that was true you wouldnt spend time talking like that online you know how you dont think about a ant because its weak and inferior truth is bruh your scared your weak and only thing your good for is talking that racists online people kill people everyday and sensless murders happens everyday not saying its right been its nothing new its been going on since the begining of time so stop acting like black people are the only ones killing folks
Stockholm syndrome. …
Stockholm syndrome. And it’s the 2nd or 3rd generations that fall for the liberal dark side. Their parents and grandparents left their origin countries because of out of control communism/socialism. But not all Asian Americans are suckers for the white guilt, black loving, anti-Asian American hollywood liberals.
These poor black …
These poor black guys were just hong gray….just ask Obumer.;)
Thumbs up, you …
Thumbs up, you nailed it. Urban Americans will always be a poor fit for the USA.
Asians in general …
Asians in general are HUGE suck-ups to the Demorat party(80% vote for Demorats) and also Urban Americans……..they get what they deserve IMHO.
Typical. Blacks are …
Typical. Blacks are so stupid they will risk life imprisonment to steal chicken wings & shrimp fried rice. Their primitive, simian brains are just unable to perceive the concept of CONSEQUENCE. A scourge on our country.
This is a senseless …
This is a senseless murder,I pray the assailants get whats coming to them.And to all the racist comments,ignorance and biased people are the backbone of America culture.You will never change these people so let them be..they will help in the destruction of the fall of America.
Your Ebonics is …
Your Ebonics is impeccable!
Yes, ditto! If your …
Yes, ditto! If your going to get all “Flabbergasted”… let it be due to the inhumane ways our fellow man treats one another! NOT because your feelings were hurt by the comments expressing opinions… (Geez… what a pussy!)
Who built America? …
Who built America? I wouldn’t consider picking cotton building America.
Clearly you don’t …
Clearly you don’t know actual facts because FBI stats show black on non-black crime up almost 300% since last year alone. White guilt will only get you so far until you are the victim.
Watch your step Mo, …
Watch your step Mo, someone’s gonna call you a racist for stating the facts!
Guess you didn’t …
Guess you didn’t see the video showing gayvon attacking George. People should carry more weapons and shoot down like that.
Flabbergasted at …
Flabbergasted at the ignorant murder on the video.
True, but there …
True, but there will always be useful idiots like tori. I bet he’s suffering from stockholm syndrome and was one of the Asian Americans that was beaten by blacks in Philly. Or better yet the one’s that pine away for hollywood racists (at least against Asian Americans/Asians – they love blacks)
I hate wen people …
I hate wen people talk about my black people n giving em sentence to life in prison or death penalty what about the white people like George Zimmerman with only a couple year. Dis coming from my Voice fuck the white people