Family of slain Sunset resident demands answers, offers reward for information

The devastated family of 41-year-old Sunset Park resident Wei Lin, who was stabbed to death on Sunday, April 1 outside a karaoke club near Eighth Avenue and 64th Street, gathered with the Chairperson of the Brooklyn Asian American Community Empowerment John Chan inside the second floor of the Golden Imperial Palace, 618 62nd Street, to discuss, through an interpreter, his untimely death, question what happened and offer a reward for anyone with information on the death.

Lin’s father, mother, brother and wife were in attendance. They didn’t want their names revealed, but discussed their feelings on the sudden death of their loved one, who was stabbed several times by an unknown attacker.

“Since he was in kindergarten, he was a good student, a good son and his teachers would always tell us, don’t worry, he’s such a good student,” said the 75-year-old father as he fought through tears. “He’s such a good person to die so early. I am hoping the government agencies or police will catch this murderer.”

Lin’s brother, who lived in New Jersey with his parents for a few months, announced that the family is offering $30,000 for any evidence that may lead to the conviction of the murderer.

“He can’t have died for nothing,” he said of his brother, who came to the United States in 1998. “I contacted some of his friends. They can’t believe what has happened to him.”

Lin’s brother said that when he went to the police station after the incident, he received no answers.

As of Tuesday, April 10, NYPD stated, “There are no updates at this time. There are no named suspects. We encourage anyone with information to contact the 68 Precinct Detective Squad or contact Crimestoppers.”

Authorities say that on Sunday, April 1 at around 4 a.m., Lin got into a dispute with an unknown perp outside the club, which was doing business as Go One Sushi, and was stabbed three times in the chest.

Afterwards, Lin, a Sunset Park resident, reportedly got into a cab and was driven to Maimonides Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

“I want to know the truth about what happened to cause the death of my son,” added Lin’s father. “He was such a good son, so young. Why would anyone do that to my son? I’m hoping the police catch the murderer as soon as possible. He was so healthy and happy and after one night, he’s dead. Please help us catch the murderer.”

The parents added that Lin, who was one of three siblings, would send money to them whenever they needed, sometimes $1,000 a month.

“He would tell us not to worry and he would give us everything we needed,” said the father

Chan and Lin’s family posed several questions about the venue in which the victim was killed.

The current club operates inside premises which once roiled the community as Crown KTV, which had a long and “problematic” history, though it had been “dormant” for a while, according to a police source.

Chan questioned what happened to nearby surveillance cameras, and why police weren’t called to the scene.

He added that the family may also take legal action against the establishment’s owner.

Five people were stabbed outside Crown KTV in August, 2011, and in September, 2010, a confrontation between a bouncer and six young people attempting to enter the club left the bouncer with a broken leg. Back in 2013, the 68th Precinct reported 50 9-1-1 calls related to Crown KTV, as well as eight arrests, including two on felony charges. On June 6, 2014, the State Liquor Authority cancelled Crown KTV’s liquor license.

The victim’s wife was in Chicago when the murder occurred, learning to be a nail stylist. She received a call from a friend telling her to fly back to New York.

Anyone with information about the murder should call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.

Additional reporting by Helen Klein

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