Three men sentenced to death for participating in 2009 Shanghai gang shooting

Three men sentenced to death for participating in 2009 Shanghai gang shooting

2010-12-24 09:32:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

SHANGHAI, CHINA (BNO NEWS) -- Three men were sentenced to death on Thursday for their involvement in the 2009 gang shooting that left two dead and two wounded in Shanghai, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Friday.

Zhang Hongfu, Liu Xiaohua and Ai Daiqing were sentenced to death on charges of murder, drug trafficking, illegal manufacture of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession of firearms, interfering with public administration, provocation and group fighting.

The death sentence was ruled by the Shanghai No.2 Intermediate People's Court, which also sentenced eight other gang members to terms ranging between two years to life imprisonment on similar charges.

On May 22, 2009, two rival gangs fought over a drug debt of approximately 20,000 yuan ($3,000) at a Shanghai train station. The gang members fought using firearms and knives at the station located in Putuo District.

After the fatal confrontation, which left two people killed and two others injured, police forces seized 15 firearms and 247 bullets. A total of eleven young gang members were detained.

The fight erupted after Dong Shuang, 20, borrowed 20,000 yuan ($2,300) from Liu Xiaohua, the leader of a gang from Fujian province in April 2009. Dong used the money to buy 100 grams of methamphetamine (commonly known as ice) which she sold later.

Police said that the young drug dealer sold around 127 grams of both meth and ecstasy but she admitted to have sold only 10 grams as she and her boyfriend, Zhu Zhangui, intended to take the rest of the drugs.

However, she failed to pay back to Liu which prompted the Fujian gang to visit her on May 22 and demand the money at gunpoint. Zhu allegedly called for reinforcement and the brawl began. Zhu initiated the fight after stabbing Chen Yingwen.

Zhang Hongfu, 32, was identified as the killer of one of the involved individuals as he shot him in the head. A Fujian gang member was also killed in the confrontation. In addition to the murder charges, Chinese law prohibits the private ownership of guns.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-24