QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced charges against Minliang Zheng, 50, following a violent incident over an alleged debt.
Zheng, from Quincy, Massachusetts, has been charged with assault and criminal weapon possession after shooting a 45-year-old woman in the leg on March 19, reportedly over a financial disagreement involving her male relative.
The investigation, which involved multiple jurisdictions, led to Zheng’s arrest in Massachusetts on August 8.
He has since been extradited to New York and was arraigned on Thursday, facing a potential 15-year prison sentence if convicted. Supreme Court Justice Mary Bejarano has scheduled a court return for Zheng on November 21.
Evidence, including cellphone records and video surveillance, ties Zheng to the crime scene and the subsequent threat and shooting. The Queens District Attorney’s Office Detective Squad, along with other law enforcement agencies, were integral in the investigation that led to Zheng’s apprehension and charges.