By Chris Fuchs
A Brooklyn man and suspected gang member was convicted last week of attacking the manager of a karaoke bar in Flushing with a machete in July 1999 and then shooting the man who came to the manager’s aid, authorities said.
After a weeklong trial in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens, Ricky Tran of Brooklyn, who authorities believe is a member of the Flying Dragons street gang, was convicted last Thursday on charges of first-degree assault. Tran, 27, is scheduled to be sentenced July 16 by Justice Richard Buchter and faces up to 25 years in prison.
On July 5, 1999, Tran, along with 19 other men, visited the bar on 40th Road in downtown Flushing, said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. Once inside, Tran asked to see the manager, Lance Lau, and when Lau emerged, demanded that he give the group money, Brown said.
A friend of Lau’s, Jin Li, overheard the exchange and interjected, Brown said. The group of men then began to attack Lau and Li, both of whom ran out the door and into the street, the district attorney said. But on his way out, Lau tripped and fell to the ground, the district attorney said, and Tran took out a machete and swung it at Lau, aiming for his knee.
Another man, Alex Chan, who was standing outside the bar, tried to wrest the men away from Lau and Li with whom he was friends. Tran then pulled out a gun and shot at Chan four times, hitting him once in the arm, Brown said.
Three other men have been charged in the assault, although two of them failed to appear in court and have had warrants issued for their arrest, the authorities said. The district attorney identified the two as Ricky Lee, 19, of Brooklyn; and Michael Cheng, 20, also of Brooklyn.
The third man, Fei Diao Chen, 25, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in connection with the assault on June 8 and is expected to be sentenced in August, Brown said.
Reach reporter Chris Fuchs by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 156.
