An arrest has been made in a double murder in Los Angeles at the Hop Sing Tong. The Tong’s president and one of its member were killed.
Vinh Quok Dao, 37, is accused of stabbing two men in the neck after an argument broke out during a mah jong game. Police say the suspect demanding one of the victims give him $400 for vehicle impound fees, and when the man refused, Dao used a six inch knife to stab both men including one who tried to defend the other, reported the Los Angeles Times.
The incident is a reminder of the Tong’s violent past when it battled with a rival tong, Bing Kong Tong, in the 1920’s. The fraternal organizations sprang up to defend the Chinese community from discrimination. As they grew in strength, the Tongs also expanded into such illegal activities as prostitution, gambling and extortion. Today they are social clubs and maintain a presence in such large Chinese enclaves as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York.
You can read more about the Hop Sing Tong’s past in the Los Angeles Times.
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