On the evening of February 26, 2021, a robbery at a Chinese gambling den on 7th Avenue in Brooklyn erupted into a violent street brawl, leading to the tragic death of one Chinese man and injuries to several others. Fast forward to October 8, Liu Yongfa, a brave bystander who was injured that night, took the stand in Brooklyn Criminal Court to recount the harrowing events.
Now 43, Liu migrated from China to the U.S. in 2008 and works as a rideshare driver. He recalled that evening at around 9:30 PM when he had parked his car at the corner of 57th Street and 7th Avenue, waiting for a ride request. Suddenly, he heard shouts of “Robbery!” in the Fuzhou dialect. Across the street, he spotted three or four African American individuals walking ahead of a couple of Chinese men following closely behind.
Recognizing the situation as a robbery in progress, Liu wasted no time in dialing 911. Not well-versed in English, he requested a Mandarin-speaking operator—a detail corroborated by recordings from the court. After reporting the emergency, he slightly moved his car forward to avoid obstructing a fire hydrant.
Seeing his fellow Chinese community members in jeopardy, Liu felt an urgent need to intervene. He grabbed what he called his “tools”: a hammer and a screwdriver. At that moment, Zheng Yong, accompanied by three others, walked by, and Liu handed Zheng the screwdriver before they both dashed across the street towards the brewing conflict.
In court, Liu explained that he had taken the tools primarily for self-defense, aware that Asian individuals often find themselves at a disadvantage in physical confrontations. His intent was to assist his compatriots and make sure the assailants couldn’t flee before the police arrived. When prosecutors inquired if he knew who the robbery victims were, Liu expressed that Chinese immigrants typically work hard and avoid trouble. Given it was fellow Fujianese calling for help, he felt certain they were the victims.
As Liu and Zheng made their way across the street, chaos ensued. What started as shoving rapidly escalated into a violent fight, pulling both Liu and Zheng into the fray. When asked by the prosecutors if he noticed any weapons during the melee, Liu admitted he hadn’t clearly seen anything. Amidst the turmoil, he suddenly felt sharp pains in his right side and arm. Upon touching his body, he realized he was bleeding; he had been stabbed. Zheng was struck around the same time, and both men stumbled into a nearby Chinese restaurant, collapsing just inside the door.
Reports later indicated that Zheng, a sizable man, tragically succumbed to blood loss after being stabbed in the subclavian artery. Court footage showed a substantial pool of blood where he fell. Liu was fortunate enough to survive, having suffered two stab wounds to his right side and a cut to his arm. Emergency responders rushed him to the hospital, where he remained for three days.
Witnesses noted that a bystander had captured a photo of one of the suspects on their phone, assisting police in identifying a white Mercedes linked to the robbery. This vehicle belonged to William Smith, the African American suspect caught on camera. Facing second-degree murder charges, Smith entered the courtroom in handcuffs, exhibiting little emotion.
Zheng’s wife attended the hearings consistently, often with tears in her eyes as she spoke about her late husband. She shared that their daughter is now in college, while their son is only 8 years old. Despite the resilience of her children, she articulated her deep emotional turmoil following Zheng’s untimely passing, reflecting on the overwhelming support and comfort provided by the Chinese community in Brooklyn during that dark chapter. She expressed heartfelt gratitude for their kindness and a fervent hope for justice against the perpetrator.
