Family photo of Hong Zheng
The first of five defendants charged in the ambush murder of Hong Zheng appeared in federal court this week for the start of the trial, reports WRAL.
Authorities say Maurice Owen Wiley Jr along with four others waited outside Zheng’s home as he and his wife returned from closing their China Wok Restaurant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
According to the Herald Sun, prosecutors believe Wiley staked out the restaurant two nights before the killing. The next night they say Wiley followed them home in the hopes of robbing them, but the couple entered their home too quickly.
The third night, the men ambushed the couple, police say. They are accused of shooting Zheng dead with a single gunshot wound to the head while in his vehicle and grazed his wife, Shirley Chan.
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Chan and the couple’s daughter, Jade Zheng, are scheduled to testify in the case. Zheng told WRAL that their attorneys advised them not to speak to the media, but said the family is hoping for the best.
Wiley along with Hykeem Deshun Cox, Darryl Bradford, Semaj Maleek Bradley and Charles Winfor Daniels face first-degreee murder, attempted first-degreee murder, attempted robbery and burglary charges.
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