More details emerged over the weekend following Friday’s apparent double execution and fire at 83 Henry Street. Firefighters were called to the scene around 10:40 a.m. They only discovered after pulling two women from a burning first floor apartment that both victims had been shot in the head. The fire was set to cover up the grisly crime.
Police are searching for the suspect, who is described as a young Asian man seen running from the building Friday morning. A witness said he was wearing gloves.
The two victims have been identified. They are Xiao L. Li (70 years old); and Yong Hua Chen (36 years old). Sources told the Post the building is a “known prostitution location.” Li lived on Bayard Street. Chen reportedly lived in an apartment on Henry Street, but not the one that was set ablaze. Neither victim had a criminal record. “I never met whoever was renting that apartment,” building super Velentine Rodriguez told the Post (he’s responsible for several other buildings in the area). “I have no idea if one or 10 people live there,” he said.
