Wife defending her husband killed in Chinatown shooting, police say

NEW YORK — A woman was shot dead Monday night after police say she tried to intervene as her husband was being robbed at an apartment in Chinatown.

Video shows investigators going in and out of the building at 44 Market St. The victim was identified as 57-year-old Ying Zhu Liu. Her 61-year-old husband told police he was followed into the building by two men who rode the elevator with him to the eighth floor and then tried to rob him in the hallway.

Police sources say the husband’s adult son buzzed his dad up and was waiting for him to get off the elevator when his wife heard the commotion and came out of the apartment with a stick. That’s when one of the suspects shot her in the face.

One neighbor said he heard it unfold.

“I heard a fight, gunshot and then just called 911,” John Lee said. “I didn’t open the door. I was scared for my life, thought the best thing I could do was call police.”

Police said the suspects got away with the husband’s phone. It’s not yet clear if they knew the man and why he was targeted.  

NYPD describes the suspects

Police are looking for two suspects who were both wearing black ski masks. Sources one was wearing a red and black hooded jacket and dark pants with a white stripe and the other was wearing all black clothing with white sneakers.

News of the fatal shooting rattled friends who live nearby.

“Everybody is shocked about this situation because we are a small community. We know each other by name. We help each other,” a resident named Marco said. “I don’t know exactly the dynamic of the situation, but I know the family. They’re really good people and, again, we are really sorry for what happened.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.