Two Defendants Convicted Of Murder For Hire In Fatal Shooting of Perceived Business Rival in Queens

A federal jury in Brooklyn returned a guilty verdict against Qing Ming Yu, also known as “Allen” and Zhe Zhang, also known as “Zack,” on both counts of an indictment charging them with murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire conspiracy in connection with the February 12, 2019 killing of 31-year-old Xin “Chris” Gu, outside of a karaoke bar in Queens. The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon.  When sentenced, each defendant faces a mandatory term of life in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the verdict.

“The victim worked long hours to start his own company only to be murdered execution-style by these treacherous defendants who thought nothing of snuffing out a human life as part of their own business plan,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Thanks to the jury, and the outstanding work of the prosecutors, NYPD detectives and FBI special agents, justice has been served and the defendants will be deservedly punished for this vicious killing.”

 As proven at trial, Allen Yu was the president of Amaco, a multi-million dollar construction company that renovated apartments in New York City. In 2015, Xin Gu joined Amaco as a project manager.  Although Amaco’s business nearly quadrupled after he joined the company, Xin Gu became concerned about the company’s financial viability and resigned in 2018 to start his own property development company called KG Management.  After Xin Gu’s departure, several clients and employees also cut ties with Qing Ming Yu’s business. Multiple companies took their lucrative projects from Amaco to KG Management, including one project valued at $1,000,000. Enraged at Xin Gu’s perceived disloyalty, Qing Ming Yu hired co-conspirator You You and Zhe Zhang to kill Xin Gu in exchange for payment.  Zhang in turn hired another co-conspirator, Antony Abreu, to assist in carrying out the murder. 

On the evening of February 11, 2019, into the following morning, Xin Gu’s new company hosted a celebration of the Lunar New Year at Lake Pavilion restaurant in Flushing. After that dinner, Xin Gu and a smaller group went to a karaoke bar, Grand Slam KTV on Fowler Avenue. The hit team learned of the party and with You You acting as a lookout and Zhe Zhang serving as the getaway driver, Abreu allegedly shot the victim multiple times as he waited for an Uber, killing him. Over the next three months, Qing Ming Yu paid $150,000 to You You for the murder.

You You pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire conspiracy in June 2023 and is awaiting sentencing.  Abreu is awaiting trial.