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Wah Mee massacre

The Wah Mee massacre (traditional Chinese: 華美大屠殺; simplified Chinese: 华美大屠杀; pinyin: Huáměi dàtúshā) was a mass shooting that occurred during the night of February 18–19, 1983, in which Kwan Fai "Willie" Mak, Wai Chiu "Tony" Ng and Keung Kin "Benjamin" Ng (no relation) bound, robbed and shot fourteen people in the Wah Mee (華美, "magnificent and beautiful") gambling club at the Louisa Hotel in Seattle, Washington, United States. Thirteen of the victims died, but Wai Chin, a dealer at the Wah Mee, survived to testify against the three in the separate high-profile trials held between 1983 and 1985. It remains the deadliest mass murder in the history of Washington State.

Wah Mee massacre
Part of mass shootings in the United States
The shuttered entrance of the Wah Mee Club (double doors at left), December 2007
Location665 South King Street Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Coordinates47°35′53″N 122°19′27″W / 47.59806°N 122.32417°W / 47.59806; -122.32417
DateFebruary 19, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-02-19)
12:30 a.m. (PST)
Attack type
Mass shooting, mass murder, armed robbery, gang attack
WeaponsThree .22 caliber handguns[1]
Deaths13
Injured1
Perpetrators
  • Kwan Fai "Willie" Mak
  • Wai Chiu "Tony" Ng
  • Keung Kin "Benjamin" Ng

Massacre edit

Louisa Hotel and Wah Mee Club edit

 
S King St frontage of Louisa Hotel (2009); Maynard Alley is on the right side of the photograph.
 
Louisa Hotel Building, Wah Mee club basement exposed on Maynard Alley during renovation (2015). This is a rare view and possibly the last image of the actual crime scene.

The Louisa Hotel was built in 1909.[2] Paul Woo purchased the building in 1963 for US$160,000 (equivalent to $1,530,000 in 2022).[3] Both before and after that purchase, it functioned as a single room occupancy hotel (SRO) with street-level spaces for shops and restaurants until 1970, when tightened building codes led to the closure of the SRO portion.[2][4][3]

Two nightclubs operated illegally in the basement space of the hotel by the 1920s. The one in the western half, entered from Maynard Alley South, was originally named Blue Heaven.[2] At its height, patrons of many ethnic backgrounds visited to partake in gambling, dancing and other forms of entertainment. By the 1950s, the club had been renamed to Wah Mee (華美; 'Beautiful China'), known for high-stakes gaming.[4][5] The Wah Mee operated illegally, as contemporary local blue laws required clubs to close before midnight; it was raided by police in 1972.[6] By the 1980s, the Wah Mee had gained a much seedier reputation as a dive bar.[4][7]

Planning and motive edit

Regulars at the Wah Mee included many wealthy restaurant owners, several of whom were among the victims.[6] Many of the victims were members of the Bing Kung Tong out of San Francisco.[8][9] According to witnesses for the subsequent prosecution, Willie Mak had been planning the robbery for some time, discussing on multiple occasions his idea to rob a gambling club and kill the witnesses.[10][11] He eventually enlisted the help of Benjamin Ng; both Ng and Mak had previously attended Cleveland High School.[7][12] and both worked at the same restaurant in Blaine in 1981.[10] Both were also suspects in prior crimes, including the killing of two Chinese women on July 16, 1982.[12]

Tony Ng (no relation to Benjamin Ng) was brought into the group as a "last-minute recruit".[13] According to Tony's testimony at his 1985 trial, he owed Mak $1,000 after gambling with Mak the night before the massacre. Mak offered to forgive the debt if he would participate in a shakedown at the Wah Mee.[14] The day before the robbery, Tony borrowed $1,000 to repay Mak; instead of accepting the money, Mak drew a gun, shot a bullet at Ng's feet, and threatened to kill Ng and his girlfriend, then destroy the Ng family's restaurant, if Ng went to the police.[15][16]

 
Facade of the Wah Mee Club (2010); the security office was housed behind the rows of glass blocks.

Security at the Wah Mee was based in part on a system of passing through two sets of locked doors, which had been used in similar Chinatown gambling dens for generations and had usually been quite effective. The security office at the front of the club had four rows of opaque glass blocks; one block facing the vestibule was transparent so the security guard on duty could identify patrons and staff. The outer set of doors could only be unlocked from the inside by the guard.[17] Mak and his accomplices defeated the system only because they were known and trusted by the people at the club. During the initial investigation, police stated there were no signs of resistance from the victims;[5] a spokesman said he "believe[d] they recognized [the killers]."[18] Their presumed intent in killing all occupants was to leave no witnesses, since club patrons could have readily identified them — as the one survivor, dealer Wai Yok Chin, did.

Sequence edit

On the night of February 18, 1983, Chin arrived at approximately 11:50–11:55 PM for his regular shift as a pai gow dealer, which started at midnight.[10] Shortly after his shift began, he saw either Mak[10] or Benjamin (the identity varies depending on the source),[19] both of whom he recognized as club patrons, enter with a man he did not know (later identified as Tony). Both Mak (or Benjamin) and Tony then drew their guns, ordering everyone to lie down on the club's lower level.[19] At the time, there were ten other patrons and staff present besides the three gunmen. Approximately ten minutes later, either Benjamin[10] or Mak[19] entered the club; Mak stood on the club's upper level with a drawn gun,[11] supervising Benjamin and Tony as they methodically hogtied each victim's hands and feet with rope, laying them on their stomachs before proceeding to rob the victims of their wallets and money.[19]

While the robbery was in progress, four more patrons arrived; they too were bound and robbed. Chin convinced Tony, who was tying his bonds, to loosen the rope, as there was "no need to tie so tight, I'm an old man".[10][20] Once everyone was tied up, Chin heard and was struck by gunfire in the neck and jaw, and lapsed into unconsciousness.[20] Tony testified at trial that although he had a gun, he never used it and was forced to participate in the robbery under duress.[21] According to Tony, Mak instructed him to take the money and leave after all the victims had been bound; he fled across the alley to the Hop Sing Club to wait for Mak and Benjamin. Tony further testified that he heard gunshots after he had already exited the Wah Mee.[14] When Chin came to, he was able to loosen his ropes and staggered outside at 12:44 AM,[18] where he was able to find help from three patrons who had been buzzing to gain entry to the club.[1] After the police arrived, they found twelve dead; one more victim subsequently died of his injuries at the hospital,[18] and Chin was the sole survivor.[19]

According to the police, thirty-two shots were fired in total; twenty-six of those were fired from the same .22 caliber gun.[1] Each victim had been shot in the head at least once.[18]

Aftermath edit

 
Part of a mural discovered in the Club Royale space while the building was being restored in the 2010s

The buses come every day. Every day. It's not that I don't want it remembered so that it will never happen again. I just don't want it exploited like that. When there's a terrible murder somewhere else, you don't see a busload of Asians come out to look.

 — Donnie Chin, proprietor of the Sun May souvenir shop, quoted in 2008 Post-Intelligencer article[22]

Following the shooting, the doors to the Wah Mee were padlocked shut,[23] and the contents were not disturbed after the police left.[4][24] The club was never reopened, although the site was a popular stop for tour buses.[22]

A spokesman for the Hop Sing Tong denied the massacre was an act of war against the Bing Kung Tong; Mak and Benjamin were both members of the Hop Sing, and most of the victims were members of the Bing Kung.[9]

Chin, the sole survivor of the massacre, made a full recovery despite an early medical setback[25] and possible assassination threats that forced prosecutors to depose him on videotape prior to the trials.[26] He died in May 1993, aged 71.[27]

The Louisa Hotel continued to host street-level businesses until a fire on Christmas Eve 2013 destroyed the top floor and interior of the building.[4][28][29] The Woo family, who still owned the building, decided to demolish the fire-damaged portion (which included all of the former Wah Mee space) while retaining as much of the building as possible to preserve its contribution to the Chinatown Historic District.[30][2] Demolition work was completed in April 2015.[31] Reconstruction began February 12, 2018, with a blessing by Buddhist monks and a procession.[2] The building reopened June 2019, with eighty-five rental apartments plus street-level retail and restaurant space.[31]

Victims edit

  • John Loui, no age given
  • Chong L. Chinn, no age given
  • Wing Wong, 59
  • Moo Min Mar, 52
  • Jean Mar, 47
  • Henning Chinn, 52
  • Dewey Mar, no age given
  • Gim Lun Wong, no age given
  • Hung Fat Gee, about 50
  • George Mar, in his 50s
  • Jack Mar, in his 50s
  • Chinn Lee Law, in his 50s
  • Chin Wing, in his 50s [32][33]

Arrests edit

Chin was able to identify both Mak and Benjamin for the police; the identity of the third gunman was unknown to him.[19][18]

In the early morning of February 19, the Seattle police went to the home of Benjamin's brother, Stephen, who told them that Benjamin lived with his girlfriend in her parents' home. The police arrested Benjamin at the girlfriend's residence, where he had been sleeping.[34] After obtaining a search warrant, the police returned later that afternoon to find $7,500 in cash, two loaded .38 caliber revolvers, an M-1 rifle and ammunition in the bedroom.[19]

Mak called and turned himself in to police hours later.[5][6] Shortly after his arrest, he confessed that he had "shot them all", a statement he later repudiated.[35] Police recovered more guns and cash from Mak's home on February 19, but none of the guns matched those used in the murders.[8] An unidentified third man, who accompanied Mak to the surrender, was questioned and released.[17] Two men, including Mak's older brother, were accused of destroying evidence of the crime; Mak had borrowed a car from one of the men the night of the massacre.[36]

Police identified Tony Ng as the third suspect and issued a federal warrant for his arrest on March 31, 1983.[37] After speaking with his mother the morning after the massacre, Tony fled to Canada upon learning that thirteen people had been killed.[14] The Bing Kung Tong offered a US$60,000 (equivalent to $176,000 in 2022) reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.[8] On June 15, 1984, Tony became the 387th person to be listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.[37] He was arrested October 4, 1984, in Calgary, Alberta, by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, acting on a tip made to Seattle police.[38][39] At the time, Tony was working as an electronics assembly technician under the alias Jim Wong, living with a roommate who was unaware of his fugitive status; police suspected he had been partially supported by his family.[38] His extradition to the U.S. was blocked by his Canadian lawyer until American authorities dropped the charges that could have resulted in the death penalty.[13][38][40]

Trials and sentencing edit

On February 24, 1983, Mak and Benjamin were charged with thirteen counts of aggravated first-degree murder and one count of first degree assault.[19] Benjamin was represented by Seattle defense lawyer John Henry Browne.[34] Mak was represented by the associated counsel for the accused, lawyers Jim Robinson[41] and Don Madsen.[42] The State was represented by William Downing and Robert Lasnik.[43] On March 22, Judge Frank D. Howard set a preliminary trial date for both Benjamin and Mak for April 20,[26] but they were tried separately because the defense believed Mak would blame Ng.[8] Tony was named the third suspect, charged in absentia on March 30, 1983, with thirteen counts of aggravated first-degree murder.

Benjamin Ng edit

On August 25, 1983, Benjamin was convicted on the thirteen counts of aggravated first-degree murder after two to three hours of deliberation[1][44][45] and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on the next day.[35][46] During the sentencing phase, Benjamin's mother testified on his behalf, stating the family had emigrated from Hong Kong in 1975; while still in Hong Kong, Benjamin had been beaten on the head repeatedly with a piece of wood, resulting in brain damage, as corroborated by medical experts.[44]

Jury selection for the trial began on August 9.[34] Initially, Ng's defense claimed he did not shoot anyone,[45] as the weapons found in the bedroom of his girlfriend were a different caliber, but the prosecution asserted that .22 caliber shell casings recovered at the Wah Mee scene matched a gun that Ng once fired.[47] During the trial, Ng's attorney conceded that he had participated in the robbery and was guilty of first-degree murder, but not aggravated first-degree murder; the distinction, had he been convicted of first-degree murder without aggravation, would have made him ineligible for the death penalty and would have raised the possibility of parole.[20] The defense had contended that although Benjamin Ng had participated in planning the robbery, he did not plan to murder the victims to silence potential witnesses.[45] The jury concluded that Ng had killed in furtherance of the robbery, justifying the aggravated murder enhancement.[46]

Ng was sentenced to a 15th life sentence in December 1983, after testimony accusing him of the unrelated murder of Franklin Leach on October 22, 1981, was introduced during Mak's trial.[38][48]

Willie Mak edit

On October 6, 1983, Willie Mak was convicted of 13 counts of aggravated first degree murder and one count of first-degree assault[49][50] and sentenced to death by hanging on October 22.[51] On April 24, 1986, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the verdict and death sentence.[52]

Jury selection for the trial began on September 12.[53] The defense were expected to blame an unnamed individual who wished to gain control over illegal gambling operations in Chinatown.[53] At his trial, Mak claimed that he had only gone to the Wah Mee to rough up a patron as retaliation for the beating of a senior Hop Sing Tong official. Mak, a member of the Hop Sing along with Benjamin Ng,[9] claimed he was directed to do so by Roy Chu, president of the Hop Sing, an allegation which Chu denied. According to Mak's testimony, Benjamin Ng and his companion were independently robbing the patrons and Mak left before any shooting occurred, but he heard "snapping sounds" as he left.[11][49] In addition, Mak's lawyer argued that Benjamin Ng was the shooter at the Wah Mee by blaming Ng for the unsolved murder of Franklin Leach, aged 71, in 1981. According to Jim Robinson, Leach was shot when he jogged by Mak and Ng as they were dumping a stolen safe into Lake Washington.[41] During the trial, prosecutors and police used hypnosis to change the testimony of a defense witness.[11]

On February 17, 1987 the Washington State Supreme Court issued a stay of execution a month before Willie Mak's scheduled execution, but on May 2, 1988 the State Supreme Court let Mak's murder conviction stand. However, on November 10, 1988, Willie Mak's execution was delayed indefinitely by a federal judge. On January 8, 1991 U.S. District Judge William Dwyer overturned Willie Mak's death sentence, saying Mak's attorneys failed to present evidence on their client's background that could have saved his life. On July 16, 1992, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reinstate Mak's death sentence.

On November 9, 1994, a King County Superior Court judge denied Mak's bid for a new trial but allowed prosecutors to hold a new sentencing hearing. On February 15, 2002, a King County Superior Court judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 2002. On April 29, 2002, a King County Superior Court judge ruled that Mak will not face execution since the 1983 jury wasn't asked to determine how much of a role he had in the crime. Mak was resentenced to life without parole.[54][55]

Tony Ng edit

Tony Ng was acquitted on April 19, 1985, of murder, but convicted of 13 counts of first-degree robbery and a single count of assault with a deadly weapon.[56] Each robbery charge brought a minimum sentence of five years, some to be served consecutively.[57] On July 3, 1985, Tony Ng was sentenced to 13 life terms, one for each count of first-degree robbery, which would mean a term of 35 years in total.[58]

The jury selection for Tony Ng's trial was completed on April 4 after four days of proceedings.[59] Tony Ng was represented at his trial by Mark Mestel and John Muenster.[15][14] Defense attorneys questioned whether the 45-minute statement Ng gave to the RCMP upon his arrest in Calgary was admissible, as he had not been advised of his rights.[59] Prior to the trial, prosecutors stated they would not seek the death penalty, as the earlier trials of Benjamin Ng and Mak showed that Tony Ng did not play a part in the planning of the crime.[13] At his trial, the defense argued that Ng "had no reason in the world to [participate in the robbery]" and drew a contrast between the "homicidal maniacs" Mak and Benjamin Ng and his client, characterized as quiet, shy, and passive.[16] The prosecution countered by asking why Mak and Benjamin Ng would "drag an unwilling witness into a crime that had as a central facet the elimination of all witnesses".[16]

In 1997, federal magistrate John Weinberg concluded that Ng did not receive a fair trial in 1985 and recommended either his release or a new trial. No action was required unless a U.S. District Court judge acted on his recommendation.[60]

I want the victims [of the Wah Mee Massacre] to forgive me for my participation on that night. It was a mistake, and I want to say I’m sorry. [...] I shouldn’t have hung around [Mak and Benjamin Ng] but I did. I wasn’t street-wise and didn’t know how to say no. I want the Asian community to forgive the fact that I caused pain.

 — Tony Ng, Northwest Asian Weekly, December 2009[61]

On September 6, 2006, a parole board met to determine whether Tony Ng should receive parole on his 12th robbery term. If given parole, he would begin serving his 13th term, with the potential to be eligible for parole and freed in 2010. Both former King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng and former Seattle Police Chief Patrick Fitzsimons asked the parole board to deny parole on the 12th count. Relatives of the victims who came to the hearing expressed outrage that they were not made aware of previous parole hearings and that Tony Ng was so close to possible release because of it.[62] Ng was denied parole in 2007, which meant he could not begin serving time on the final count.[63]

In December 2009, the parole of Tony Ng again came before the state parole board; relatives of the victims again spoke before the board, urging against his release.[57][61][64] On February 2010, a parole board unanimously decided "now is the time to parole Mr. [Tony] Ng to his final count."[65] On October 24, 2013, Tony Ng was granted parole.[66] Although the relatives of the victims continued to oppose the parole, he was released on October 25, 2013, from state prison directly to the Northwest detention center in Tacoma, into the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.[21] He was deported to Hong Kong on May 13, 2014.[67]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ a b c d e Moles, Kathleen (April 30, 2018). "Discovery of Prohibition-era murals in Seattle building with long and varied history is reported on February 6, 2018". HistoryLink. Seattle Office of Arts & Culture. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Boiko-Weyrauch, Anna (October 31, 2018). "How many Seattle buildings would be doomed in a big earthquake?". KUOW. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Conklin, Ellis E. . Seattle Weekly. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  5. ^ a b c Finn, Terry (February 20, 1983). "Two men held in execution of 13 Asians". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Parker, Laura (February 20, 1983). "Police Discover 13 Fatally Shot In Seattle Club". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  7. ^ a b Parker, Laura (February 22, 1983). "Seattle's Wah Mee Club, Once a Respectable Bar, Became Place of Death". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d "First Chinatown mass murder suspect set for trial". United Press International. UPI. August 7, 1983. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Deny slayings signal tong war". United Press International. UPI. February 27, 1983. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Finn, Terry (September 22, 1983). "The sole survivor of the Chinatown massacre testified Thursday". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d Finn, Terry (October 4, 1983). "Closing arguments in Chinatown slayings". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  12. ^ a b Balter, Joni (February 21, 1983). "Mass murders suspects wanted in other killings". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Green, Tom (October 17, 1984). "Prosecutors say no death penalty for Tony Ng". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d "Suspect claims innocence in massacre". United Press International. UPI. April 9, 1985. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  15. ^ a b Anderson, Rick (March 2, 2010). "SPD | Wah Mee's killing floor". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  16. ^ a b c "Seattle Chinatown massacre case goes to jury". United Press International. UPI. April 16, 1985. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
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  18. ^ a b c d e "13 slain in Chinatown gambling club robbery; 2 suspects in custody". United Press International. UPI. February 19, 1983. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h The State of Washington vs. Benjamin Kin Ng, 104 Wn.2d 763 (The Supreme Court of Washington December 5, 1985).
  20. ^ a b c Parker, Laura (August 25, 1983). "Hong Kong Immigrant Is Convicted In Seattle Chinatown Club Slaughter". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
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  23. ^ Turner, Wallace (February 21, 1983). "Club Where 13 Were Slain Is Like Many In Coast Chinatowns". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  24. ^ Millman, Zosha (February 18, 2018). "Sunday marks 35 years since the Wah Mee Massacre". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Wai Yak Chin, the sole survivor of the Chinatown..." United Press International. UPI. March 10, 1983. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  26. ^ a b Finn, Terry (March 22, 1983). "Trial date set in Chinatown mass murder". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  27. ^ Seven, Richard (May 6, 1993). "Wah Mee Survivor Wai Chin Dies At Age 71". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  28. ^ Rosenthal, Brian M. (December 26, 2013). "Fire battled at site of Wah Mee massacre". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Site of notorious Seattle massacre gutted by fire". United Press International. UPI. December 26, 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  30. ^ Garnick, Coral (March 5, 2014). "Owners to raze part of Wah Mee building, preserve its exterior". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  31. ^ a b Brodeur, Nicole (June 17, 2019). "Historic Louisa Hotel, witness to Seattle history and tragedy, opens new chapter as apartment building". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  32. ^ Turner, Wallace; Times, Special To the New York (1983-02-20). "13 SLAIN AT CLUB IN SEATTLE'S CHINATOWN (Published 1983)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  33. ^ Finn, Terry. "Two men held in execution of 13 Asians". UPI. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  34. ^ a b c Finn, Terry (August 9, 1983). "Benjamin Ng, who is charged with aggravated first-degree murder..." United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  35. ^ a b Balter, Joni (August 26, 1983). "Jury spares 20-year-old mass murderer's life". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  36. ^ Balter, Joni (April 8, 1983). "A judge Friday ordered two men suspected of destroying evidence..." United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
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  38. ^ a b c d "Suspected massmurderer Wai-Chiu Ng was ordered deported from Canada..." United Press International. UPI. October 5, 1984. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  39. ^ Marks, Ellen (October 5, 1984). "Gaming club murder suspect caught". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
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  41. ^ a b Balter, Joni (September 21, 1983). "Immigrants accussed [sic] in another murder". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  42. ^ "Wah Mee Sentence To Be Appealed -- Leading Figure In Massacre Of 13 Contends Defense Was Ineffective | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  43. ^ Johnson, Tracy (April 30, 2002). "Mak spared death for Wah Mee killings". Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter.
  44. ^ a b Turner, Wallace (August 26, 1983). "A Seattle Youth, 20, Gets Life Sentence In Chinatown Case". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  45. ^ a b c Balter, Joni (August 24, 1983). "Benjamin Ng was found guilty today of aggravated first-degree..." United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  46. ^ a b Turner, Wallace (August 27, 1983). "Suspect In 13 Seattle Deaths To Get Life Sentence". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  47. ^ "Seattle Jurors Told Youth Did Not Kill In Chinatown Club". The New York Times. AP. August 17, 1983. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  48. ^ "Judge sentences Ng to 15th life term". Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. AP. December 20, 1983. p. 13. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  49. ^ a b "Jury Convicts Slayer Of 13 In Seattle's Chinatown". The New York Times. October 6, 1983. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  50. ^ Finn, Terry (October 5, 1983). "Kwan Fai 'Willie' Mak, accused of masterminding the robbery..." United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  51. ^ "Murder of 13 in Coast Club Is Sentenced by Judge to Die". The New York Times. AP. October 22, 1983. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  52. ^ "Conviction for Seattle's Chinatown Deaths Upheld". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 25, 1986. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  53. ^ a b Finn, Terry (September 12, 1983). "Jury selection begins in 2nd Chinatown massmurder trial". United Press International. UPI. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  54. ^ "Quiet end to notorious crime Willie Mak".[permanent dead link]
  55. ^ "Wah Mee Massacre leaves 13 dead in Seattle".
  56. ^ "Around The Nation; Last Suspect Convicted In 13 Seattle Killings". The New York Times. AP. April 19, 1985. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  57. ^ a b "Release weighed for convict in 1983 Seattle massacre". Los Angeles Times. The Seattle Times. January 4, 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  58. ^ "Convicted of First-Degree Robbery: Man Receives 13 Life Terms in Seattle Massacre". Los Angeles Times. United Press International. July 4, 1985. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  59. ^ a b "A jury was selected Thursday to hear the trial..." United Press International. UPI. April 4, 1985. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  60. ^ "Massacre Defendant May Get A New Trial". The Spokesman-Review. April 16, 1997. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  61. ^ a b Phan, Amy (December 10, 2009). "Wah Mee victims' family members emotional at public meeting". Northwest Asian Weekly. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  62. ^ Singer, Natalie (September 7, 2006). "23 years haven't erased grief caused by Wah Mee Massacre". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  63. ^ Singer, Natalie (April 11, 2007). "Wah Mee Massacre inmate is denied parole". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  64. ^ Sullivan, Jennifer (December 4, 2009). "Families of Wah Mee Massacre victims may speak up on parole". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  65. ^ Kang, Martha (February 26, 2010). "Wah Mee Massacre prisoner closer to release". KOMO News. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  66. ^ Hamilton, Matt (October 26, 2013). "Man convicted in Seattle's Wah Mee massacre gets parole". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  67. ^ Carter, Mike (May 19, 2014). "Parolee in 1983 Wah Mee massacre deported to Hong Kong". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 20 March 2019./

External links edit

  • "Wah Mee e-book by Todd Matthews" at wahmee.com
  • Wah Mee Massacre at HistoryLink
  • "Massacre @ South King Street" at Mutterings of a Mad Race
  • Chin, Frank (May 4, 1983). "Our Life is War". Seattle Weekly.

massacre, traditional, chinese, 華美大屠殺, simplified, chinese, 华美大屠杀, pinyin, huáměi, dàtúshā, mass, shooting, that, occurred, during, night, february, 1983, which, kwan, willie, chiu, tony, keung, benjamin, relation, bound, robbed, shot, fourteen, people, 華美, ma. The Wah Mee massacre traditional Chinese 華美大屠殺 simplified Chinese 华美大屠杀 pinyin Huamei datusha was a mass shooting that occurred during the night of February 18 19 1983 in which Kwan Fai Willie Mak Wai Chiu Tony Ng and Keung Kin Benjamin Ng no relation bound robbed and shot fourteen people in the Wah Mee 華美 magnificent and beautiful gambling club at the Louisa Hotel in Seattle Washington United States Thirteen of the victims died but Wai Chin a dealer at the Wah Mee survived to testify against the three in the separate high profile trials held between 1983 and 1985 It remains the deadliest mass murder in the history of Washington State Wah Mee massacrePart of mass shootings in the United StatesThe shuttered entrance of the Wah Mee Club double doors at left December 2007Location665 South King Street Seattle Washington U S Coordinates47 35 53 N 122 19 27 W 47 59806 N 122 32417 W 47 59806 122 32417DateFebruary 19 1983 41 years ago 1983 02 19 12 30 a m PST Attack typeMass shooting mass murder armed robbery gang attackWeaponsThree 22 caliber handguns 1 Deaths13Injured1PerpetratorsKwan Fai Willie MakWai Chiu Tony NgKeung Kin Benjamin Ng Contents 1 Massacre 1 1 Louisa Hotel and Wah Mee Club 1 2 Planning and motive 1 3 Sequence 1 4 Aftermath 2 Victims 3 Arrests 4 Trials and sentencing 4 1 Benjamin Ng 4 2 Willie Mak 4 3 Tony Ng 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksMassacre editLouisa Hotel and Wah Mee Club edit Main article Louisa Hotel nbsp S King St frontage of Louisa Hotel 2009 Maynard Alley is on the right side of the photograph nbsp Louisa Hotel Building Wah Mee club basement exposed on Maynard Alley during renovation 2015 This is a rare view and possibly the last image of the actual crime scene The Louisa Hotel was built in 1909 2 Paul Woo purchased the building in 1963 for US 160 000 equivalent to 1 530 000 in 2022 3 Both before and after that purchase it functioned as a single room occupancy hotel SRO with street level spaces for shops and restaurants until 1970 when tightened building codes led to the closure of the SRO portion 2 4 3 Two nightclubs operated illegally in the basement space of the hotel by the 1920s The one in the western half entered from Maynard Alley South was originally named Blue Heaven 2 At its height patrons of many ethnic backgrounds visited to partake in gambling dancing and other forms of entertainment By the 1950s the club had been renamed to Wah Mee 華美 Beautiful China known for high stakes gaming 4 5 The Wah Mee operated illegally as contemporary local blue laws required clubs to close before midnight it was raided by police in 1972 6 By the 1980s the Wah Mee had gained a much seedier reputation as a dive bar 4 7 Planning and motive edit Regulars at the Wah Mee included many wealthy restaurant owners several of whom were among the victims 6 Many of the victims were members of the Bing Kung Tong out of San Francisco 8 9 According to witnesses for the subsequent prosecution Willie Mak had been planning the robbery for some time discussing on multiple occasions his idea to rob a gambling club and kill the witnesses 10 11 He eventually enlisted the help of Benjamin Ng both Ng and Mak had previously attended Cleveland High School 7 12 and both worked at the same restaurant in Blaine in 1981 10 Both were also suspects in prior crimes including the killing of two Chinese women on July 16 1982 12 Tony Ng no relation to Benjamin Ng was brought into the group as a last minute recruit 13 According to Tony s testimony at his 1985 trial he owed Mak 1 000 after gambling with Mak the night before the massacre Mak offered to forgive the debt if he would participate in a shakedown at the Wah Mee 14 The day before the robbery Tony borrowed 1 000 to repay Mak instead of accepting the money Mak drew a gun shot a bullet at Ng s feet and threatened to kill Ng and his girlfriend then destroy the Ng family s restaurant if Ng went to the police 15 16 nbsp Facade of the Wah Mee Club 2010 the security office was housed behind the rows of glass blocks Security at the Wah Mee was based in part on a system of passing through two sets of locked doors which had been used in similar Chinatown gambling dens for generations and had usually been quite effective The security office at the front of the club had four rows of opaque glass blocks one block facing the vestibule was transparent so the security guard on duty could identify patrons and staff The outer set of doors could only be unlocked from the inside by the guard 17 Mak and his accomplices defeated the system only because they were known and trusted by the people at the club During the initial investigation police stated there were no signs of resistance from the victims 5 a spokesman said he believe d they recognized the killers 18 Their presumed intent in killing all occupants was to leave no witnesses since club patrons could have readily identified them as the one survivor dealer Wai Yok Chin did Sequence edit On the night of February 18 1983 Chin arrived at approximately 11 50 11 55 PM for his regular shift as a pai gow dealer which started at midnight 10 Shortly after his shift began he saw either Mak 10 or Benjamin the identity varies depending on the source 19 both of whom he recognized as club patrons enter with a man he did not know later identified as Tony Both Mak or Benjamin and Tony then drew their guns ordering everyone to lie down on the club s lower level 19 At the time there were ten other patrons and staff present besides the three gunmen Approximately ten minutes later either Benjamin 10 or Mak 19 entered the club Mak stood on the club s upper level with a drawn gun 11 supervising Benjamin and Tony as they methodically hogtied each victim s hands and feet with rope laying them on their stomachs before proceeding to rob the victims of their wallets and money 19 While the robbery was in progress four more patrons arrived they too were bound and robbed Chin convinced Tony who was tying his bonds to loosen the rope as there was no need to tie so tight I m an old man 10 20 Once everyone was tied up Chin heard and was struck by gunfire in the neck and jaw and lapsed into unconsciousness 20 Tony testified at trial that although he had a gun he never used it and was forced to participate in the robbery under duress 21 According to Tony Mak instructed him to take the money and leave after all the victims had been bound he fled across the alley to the Hop Sing Club to wait for Mak and Benjamin Tony further testified that he heard gunshots after he had already exited the Wah Mee 14 When Chin came to he was able to loosen his ropes and staggered outside at 12 44 AM 18 where he was able to find help from three patrons who had been buzzing to gain entry to the club 1 After the police arrived they found twelve dead one more victim subsequently died of his injuries at the hospital 18 and Chin was the sole survivor 19 According to the police thirty two shots were fired in total twenty six of those were fired from the same 22 caliber gun 1 Each victim had been shot in the head at least once 18 Aftermath edit nbsp Part of a mural discovered in the Club Royale space while the building was being restored in the 2010sThe buses come every day Every day It s not that I don t want it remembered so that it will never happen again I just don t want it exploited like that When there s a terrible murder somewhere else you don t see a busload of Asians come out to look Donnie Chin proprietor of the Sun May souvenir shop quoted in 2008 Post Intelligencer article 22 Following the shooting the doors to the Wah Mee were padlocked shut 23 and the contents were not disturbed after the police left 4 24 The club was never reopened although the site was a popular stop for tour buses 22 A spokesman for the Hop Sing Tong denied the massacre was an act of war against the Bing Kung Tong Mak and Benjamin were both members of the Hop Sing and most of the victims were members of the Bing Kung 9 Chin the sole survivor of the massacre made a full recovery despite an early medical setback 25 and possible assassination threats that forced prosecutors to depose him on videotape prior to the trials 26 He died in May 1993 aged 71 27 The Louisa Hotel continued to host street level businesses until a fire on Christmas Eve 2013 destroyed the top floor and interior of the building 4 28 29 The Woo family who still owned the building decided to demolish the fire damaged portion which included all of the former Wah Mee space while retaining as much of the building as possible to preserve its contribution to the Chinatown Historic District 30 2 Demolition work was completed in April 2015 31 Reconstruction began February 12 2018 with a blessing by Buddhist monks and a procession 2 The building reopened June 2019 with eighty five rental apartments plus street level retail and restaurant space 31 Victims editJohn Loui no age given Chong L Chinn no age given Wing Wong 59 Moo Min Mar 52 Jean Mar 47 Henning Chinn 52 Dewey Mar no age given Gim Lun Wong no age given Hung Fat Gee about 50 George Mar in his 50s Jack Mar in his 50s Chinn Lee Law in his 50s Chin Wing in his 50s 32 33 Arrests editChin was able to identify both Mak and Benjamin for the police the identity of the third gunman was unknown to him 19 18 In the early morning of February 19 the Seattle police went to the home of Benjamin s brother Stephen who told them that Benjamin lived with his girlfriend in her parents home The police arrested Benjamin at the girlfriend s residence where he had been sleeping 34 After obtaining a search warrant the police returned later that afternoon to find 7 500 in cash two loaded 38 caliber revolvers an M 1 rifle and ammunition in the bedroom 19 Mak called and turned himself in to police hours later 5 6 Shortly after his arrest he confessed that he had shot them all a statement he later repudiated 35 Police recovered more guns and cash from Mak s home on February 19 but none of the guns matched those used in the murders 8 An unidentified third man who accompanied Mak to the surrender was questioned and released 17 Two men including Mak s older brother were accused of destroying evidence of the crime Mak had borrowed a car from one of the men the night of the massacre 36 Police identified Tony Ng as the third suspect and issued a federal warrant for his arrest on March 31 1983 37 After speaking with his mother the morning after the massacre Tony fled to Canada upon learning that thirteen people had been killed 14 The Bing Kung Tong offered a US 60 000 equivalent to 176 000 in 2022 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction 8 On June 15 1984 Tony became the 387th person to be listed on the FBI s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list 37 He was arrested October 4 1984 in Calgary Alberta by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police acting on a tip made to Seattle police 38 39 At the time Tony was working as an electronics assembly technician under the alias Jim Wong living with a roommate who was unaware of his fugitive status police suspected he had been partially supported by his family 38 His extradition to the U S was blocked by his Canadian lawyer until American authorities dropped the charges that could have resulted in the death penalty 13 38 40 Trials and sentencing editOn February 24 1983 Mak and Benjamin were charged with thirteen counts of aggravated first degree murder and one count of first degree assault 19 Benjamin was represented by Seattle defense lawyer John Henry Browne 34 Mak was represented by the associated counsel for the accused lawyers Jim Robinson 41 and Don Madsen 42 The State was represented by William Downing and Robert Lasnik 43 On March 22 Judge Frank D Howard set a preliminary trial date for both Benjamin and Mak for April 20 26 but they were tried separately because the defense believed Mak would blame Ng 8 Tony was named the third suspect charged in absentia on March 30 1983 with thirteen counts of aggravated first degree murder Benjamin Ng edit On August 25 1983 Benjamin was convicted on the thirteen counts of aggravated first degree murder after two to three hours of deliberation 1 44 45 and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on the next day 35 46 During the sentencing phase Benjamin s mother testified on his behalf stating the family had emigrated from Hong Kong in 1975 while still in Hong Kong Benjamin had been beaten on the head repeatedly with a piece of wood resulting in brain damage as corroborated by medical experts 44 Jury selection for the trial began on August 9 34 Initially Ng s defense claimed he did not shoot anyone 45 as the weapons found in the bedroom of his girlfriend were a different caliber but the prosecution asserted that 22 caliber shell casings recovered at the Wah Mee scene matched a gun that Ng once fired 47 During the trial Ng s attorney conceded that he had participated in the robbery and was guilty of first degree murder but not aggravated first degree murder the distinction had he been convicted of first degree murder without aggravation would have made him ineligible for the death penalty and would have raised the possibility of parole 20 The defense had contended that although Benjamin Ng had participated in planning the robbery he did not plan to murder the victims to silence potential witnesses 45 The jury concluded that Ng had killed in furtherance of the robbery justifying the aggravated murder enhancement 46 Ng was sentenced to a 15th life sentence in December 1983 after testimony accusing him of the unrelated murder of Franklin Leach on October 22 1981 was introduced during Mak s trial 38 48 Willie Mak edit On October 6 1983 Willie Mak was convicted of 13 counts of aggravated first degree murder and one count of first degree assault 49 50 and sentenced to death by hanging on October 22 51 On April 24 1986 the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the verdict and death sentence 52 Jury selection for the trial began on September 12 53 The defense were expected to blame an unnamed individual who wished to gain control over illegal gambling operations in Chinatown 53 At his trial Mak claimed that he had only gone to the Wah Mee to rough up a patron as retaliation for the beating of a senior Hop Sing Tong official Mak a member of the Hop Sing along with Benjamin Ng 9 claimed he was directed to do so by Roy Chu president of the Hop Sing an allegation which Chu denied According to Mak s testimony Benjamin Ng and his companion were independently robbing the patrons and Mak left before any shooting occurred but he heard snapping sounds as he left 11 49 In addition Mak s lawyer argued that Benjamin Ng was the shooter at the Wah Mee by blaming Ng for the unsolved murder of Franklin Leach aged 71 in 1981 According to Jim Robinson Leach was shot when he jogged by Mak and Ng as they were dumping a stolen safe into Lake Washington 41 During the trial prosecutors and police used hypnosis to change the testimony of a defense witness 11 On February 17 1987 the Washington State Supreme Court issued a stay of execution a month before Willie Mak s scheduled execution but on May 2 1988 the State Supreme Court let Mak s murder conviction stand However on November 10 1988 Willie Mak s execution was delayed indefinitely by a federal judge On January 8 1991 U S District Judge William Dwyer overturned Willie Mak s death sentence saying Mak s attorneys failed to present evidence on their client s background that could have saved his life On July 16 1992 the 9th U S Circuit Court of Appeals refused to reinstate Mak s death sentence On November 9 1994 a King County Superior Court judge denied Mak s bid for a new trial but allowed prosecutors to hold a new sentencing hearing On February 15 2002 a King County Superior Court judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for September 2002 On April 29 2002 a King County Superior Court judge ruled that Mak will not face execution since the 1983 jury wasn t asked to determine how much of a role he had in the crime Mak was resentenced to life without parole 54 55 Tony Ng edit Tony Ng was acquitted on April 19 1985 of murder but convicted of 13 counts of first degree robbery and a single count of assault with a deadly weapon 56 Each robbery charge brought a minimum sentence of five years some to be served consecutively 57 On July 3 1985 Tony Ng was sentenced to 13 life terms one for each count of first degree robbery which would mean a term of 35 years in total 58 The jury selection for Tony Ng s trial was completed on April 4 after four days of proceedings 59 Tony Ng was represented at his trial by Mark Mestel and John Muenster 15 14 Defense attorneys questioned whether the 45 minute statement Ng gave to the RCMP upon his arrest in Calgary was admissible as he had not been advised of his rights 59 Prior to the trial prosecutors stated they would not seek the death penalty as the earlier trials of Benjamin Ng and Mak showed that Tony Ng did not play a part in the planning of the crime 13 At his trial the defense argued that Ng had no reason in the world to participate in the robbery and drew a contrast between the homicidal maniacs Mak and Benjamin Ng and his client characterized as quiet shy and passive 16 The prosecution countered by asking why Mak and Benjamin Ng would drag an unwilling witness into a crime that had as a central facet the elimination of all witnesses 16 In 1997 federal magistrate John Weinberg concluded that Ng did not receive a fair trial in 1985 and recommended either his release or a new trial No action was required unless a U S District Court judge acted on his recommendation 60 I want the victims of the Wah Mee Massacre to forgive me for my participation on that night It was a mistake and I want to say I m sorry I shouldn t have hung around Mak and Benjamin Ng but I did I wasn t street wise and didn t know how to say no I want the Asian community to forgive the fact that I caused pain Tony Ng Northwest Asian Weekly December 2009 61 On September 6 2006 a parole board met to determine whether Tony Ng should receive parole on his 12th robbery term If given parole he would begin serving his 13th term with the potential to be eligible for parole and freed in 2010 Both former King County Prosecuting Attorney Norm Maleng and former Seattle Police Chief Patrick Fitzsimons asked the parole board to deny parole on the 12th count Relatives of the victims who came to the hearing expressed outrage that they were not made aware of previous parole hearings and that Tony Ng was so close to possible release because of it 62 Ng was denied parole in 2007 which meant he could not begin serving time on the final count 63 In December 2009 the parole of Tony Ng again came before the state parole board relatives of the victims again spoke before the board urging against his release 57 61 64 On February 2010 a parole board unanimously decided now is the time to parole Mr Tony Ng to his final count 65 On October 24 2013 Tony Ng was granted parole 66 Although the relatives of the victims continued to oppose the parole he was released on October 25 2013 from state prison directly to the Northwest detention center in Tacoma into the custody of the U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings 21 He was deported to Hong Kong on May 13 2014 67 See also edit nbsp Law portal nbsp Washington state portalLouisa Hotel List of massacres in the United States Golden Dragon massacre History of Chinese Americans in SeattleReferences edit a b c d Turner Wallace 25 August 1983 20 YEAR OLD IS CONVICTED IN DEATHS OF 13 IN SEATTLE The New York Times New York Times Retrieved 29 October 2018 a b c d e Moles Kathleen April 30 2018 Discovery of Prohibition era murals in Seattle building with long and varied history is reported on February 6 2018 HistoryLink Seattle Office of Arts amp Culture Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b Boiko Weyrauch Anna October 31 2018 How many Seattle buildings would be doomed in a big earthquake KUOW Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b c d e Conklin Ellis E The Broken Heart of Chinatown Seattle Weekly Archived from the original on 18 October 2016 Retrieved 2016 10 17 a b c Finn Terry February 20 1983 Two men held in execution of 13 Asians United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c Parker Laura February 20 1983 Police Discover 13 Fatally Shot In Seattle Club The Washington Post Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b Parker Laura February 22 1983 Seattle s Wah Mee Club Once a Respectable Bar Became Place of Death The Washington Post Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b c d First Chinatown mass murder suspect set for trial United Press International UPI August 7 1983 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c Deny slayings signal tong war United Press International UPI February 27 1983 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c d e f Finn Terry September 22 1983 The sole survivor of the Chinatown massacre testified Thursday United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c d Finn Terry October 4 1983 Closing arguments in Chinatown slayings United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b Balter Joni February 21 1983 Mass murders suspects wanted in other killings United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c Green Tom October 17 1984 Prosecutors say no death penalty for Tony Ng United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c d Suspect claims innocence in massacre United Press International UPI April 9 1985 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b Anderson Rick March 2 2010 SPD Wah Mee s killing floor Seattle Weekly Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b c Seattle Chinatown massacre case goes to jury United Press International UPI April 16 1985 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b Turner Wallace February 20 1983 13 Slain At Club In Seattle s Chinatown The New York Times Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b c d e 13 slain in Chinatown gambling club robbery 2 suspects in custody United Press International UPI February 19 1983 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c d e f g h The State of Washington vs Benjamin Kin Ng 104 Wn 2d 763 The Supreme Court of Washington December 5 1985 a b c Parker Laura August 25 1983 Hong Kong Immigrant Is Convicted In Seattle Chinatown Club Slaughter The Washington Post Retrieved 19 March 2019 a b Sullivan Jennifer Carter Mike October 26 2013 Wah Mee Massacre participant granted parole will be deported The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 a b Murakami Kery February 18 2008 Wah Mee After 25 years pain lingers Seattle Post Intelligencer Retrieved 25 March 2019 Turner Wallace February 21 1983 Club Where 13 Were Slain Is Like Many In Coast Chinatowns The New York Times Retrieved 21 March 2019 Millman Zosha February 18 2018 Sunday marks 35 years since the Wah Mee Massacre Seattle Post Intelligencer Retrieved 25 March 2019 Wai Yak Chin the sole survivor of the Chinatown United Press International UPI March 10 1983 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b Finn Terry March 22 1983 Trial date set in Chinatown mass murder United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 Seven Richard May 6 1993 Wah Mee Survivor Wai Chin Dies At Age 71 The Seattle Times Retrieved 22 March 2019 Rosenthal Brian M December 26 2013 Fire battled at site of Wah Mee massacre The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 Site of notorious Seattle massacre gutted by fire United Press International UPI December 26 2013 Retrieved 22 March 2019 Garnick Coral March 5 2014 Owners to raze part of Wah Mee building preserve its exterior The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 a b Brodeur Nicole June 17 2019 Historic Louisa Hotel witness to Seattle history and tragedy opens new chapter as apartment building The Seattle Times Retrieved 16 August 2019 Turner Wallace Times Special To the New York 1983 02 20 13 SLAIN AT CLUB IN SEATTLE S CHINATOWN Published 1983 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2021 02 19 Finn Terry Two men held in execution of 13 Asians UPI Retrieved 2022 01 31 a b c Finn Terry August 9 1983 Benjamin Ng who is charged with aggravated first degree murder United Press International UPI Retrieved 19 March 2019 a b Balter Joni August 26 1983 Jury spares 20 year old mass murderer s life United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 Balter Joni April 8 1983 A judge Friday ordered two men suspected of destroying evidence United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b A British subject wanted in the brutal deaths of 13 people United Press International UPI June 14 1984 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b c d Suspected massmurderer Wai Chiu Ng was ordered deported from Canada United Press International UPI October 5 1984 Retrieved 22 March 2019 Marks Ellen October 5 1984 Gaming club murder suspect caught United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 Canadian Extradition Hearing for Charles Ng Delayed Los Angeles Times United Press International February 21 1987 Retrieved 20 March 2019 a b Balter Joni September 21 1983 Immigrants accussed sic in another murder United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 Wah Mee Sentence To Be Appealed Leading Figure In Massacre Of 13 Contends Defense Was Ineffective The Seattle Times archive seattletimes com Retrieved 2022 07 21 Johnson Tracy April 30 2002 Mak spared death for Wah Mee killings Seattle Post Intelligencer Reporter a b Turner Wallace August 26 1983 A Seattle Youth 20 Gets Life Sentence In Chinatown Case The New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 a b c Balter Joni August 24 1983 Benjamin Ng was found guilty today of aggravated first degree United Press International UPI Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b Turner Wallace August 27 1983 Suspect In 13 Seattle Deaths To Get Life Sentence The New York Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 Seattle Jurors Told Youth Did Not Kill In Chinatown Club The New York Times AP August 17 1983 Retrieved 21 March 2019 Judge sentences Ng to 15th life term Walla Walla Union Bulletin AP December 20 1983 p 13 Retrieved 25 March 2019 a b Jury Convicts Slayer Of 13 In Seattle s Chinatown The New York Times October 6 1983 Retrieved 21 March 2019 Finn Terry October 5 1983 Kwan Fai Willie Mak accused of masterminding the robbery United Press International UPI Retrieved 19 March 2019 Murder of 13 in Coast Club Is Sentenced by Judge to Die The New York Times AP October 22 1983 Retrieved 21 March 2019 Conviction for Seattle s Chinatown Deaths Upheld Los Angeles Times Associated Press April 25 1986 Retrieved 20 March 2019 a b Finn Terry September 12 1983 Jury selection begins in 2nd Chinatown massmurder trial United Press International UPI Retrieved 19 March 2019 Quiet end to notorious crime Willie Mak permanent dead link Wah Mee Massacre leaves 13 dead in Seattle Around The Nation Last Suspect Convicted In 13 Seattle Killings The New York Times AP April 19 1985 Retrieved 21 March 2019 a b Release weighed for convict in 1983 Seattle massacre Los Angeles Times The Seattle Times January 4 2010 Retrieved 20 March 2019 Convicted of First Degree Robbery Man Receives 13 Life Terms in Seattle Massacre Los Angeles Times United Press International July 4 1985 Retrieved 20 March 2019 a b A jury was selected Thursday to hear the trial United Press International UPI April 4 1985 Retrieved 22 March 2019 Massacre Defendant May Get A New Trial The Spokesman Review April 16 1997 Retrieved 22 March 2019 a b Phan Amy December 10 2009 Wah Mee victims family members emotional at public meeting Northwest Asian Weekly Retrieved 22 March 2019 Singer Natalie September 7 2006 23 years haven t erased grief caused by Wah Mee Massacre The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 Singer Natalie April 11 2007 Wah Mee Massacre inmate is denied parole The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 Sullivan Jennifer December 4 2009 Families of Wah Mee Massacre victims may speak up on parole The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 Kang Martha February 26 2010 Wah Mee Massacre prisoner closer to release KOMO News Retrieved 26 October 2017 Hamilton Matt October 26 2013 Man convicted in Seattle s Wah Mee massacre gets parole Los Angeles Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 Carter Mike May 19 2014 Parolee in 1983 Wah Mee massacre deported to Hong Kong The Seattle Times Retrieved 20 March 2019 External links edit Wah Mee e book by Todd Matthews at wahmee com Wah Mee Massacre at HistoryLink Massacre South King Street at Mutterings of a Mad Race Chin Frank May 4 1983 Our Life is War Seattle Weekly Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wah Mee massacre amp oldid 1194559526, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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