A 43-year-old woman named Zhao Zhao was killed in a brutal attack in her Brooklyn apartment, while her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter were left critically injured. The attacker, identified as Liyong Ye, was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing. The incident has shocked the neighborhood, which has a large population of Chinese immigrants, and has raised concerns about the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in recent years.
The tragic incident occurred in a three-room apartment shared by Zhao Zhao, her two children, Liyong Ye, and his 9-year-old son. Police officers responded to a 911 call and found Mr. Ye leaving the scene with blood covering his body. Inside the apartment, they discovered Zhao Zhao and her severely injured children. Zhao’s husband, who was working in Ohio at the time, desperately tried to return to New York upon receiving the devastating news. The tight living conditions and the stress associated with it have been cited as factors that could have contributed to the attack.
The community is in shock and disbelief, especially considering the lovable nature of Zhao Zhao’s children, who had many playmates in the building. The incident has further heightened concerns about bias crimes against Asians, as the neighborhood has experienced a significant increase in such incidents. Community leaders have offered their support as translators for the police and to console members of the community. Neighbors continue to gather outside the building, grappling with the horrifying act that took place in their midst.