Glenn Hirsch walking out of the 112th precinct in June. Zhiwen Yan and his wife Eva Zhao (GoFundMe) and screenshot of Yan on his bike.
June 28, 2022 By Czarinna Andres
A Briarwood man who allegedly gunned down a food delivery worker in Forest Hills in late April has been released on bail.
Glenn Hirsch, 51, appeared in court in Kew Gardens Monday and a judge set bail at $500,000. He has been charged for the shooting death of Zhiwen Yan, 45, and will now remain free while awaiting trial.
Hirsch’s attorney Michael Horn argues that his client is innocent and that the police have nabbed the wrong person.
Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Holder set strict guidelines as a condition of Hirsch’s release, which includes monitoring by an ankle bracelet and limitations as to where he can go outside of his apartment.
Hirsch is accused of fatally shooting Yan at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Yan was shot in the chest while on his scooter making deliveries for the Great Wall Chinese restaurant located at 104-37 Queens Blvd.
Great Wall Restaurant, located at 104-37 Queens Blvd in Forest Hills
Yan, a married father of three, had worked at the restaurant for more than a decade. He had immigrated to the U.S. from China about 20 years ago.
Cops said Hirsch had a grudge against the restaurant, having had multiple arguments with workers at the eatery. He was particularly upset that he had been shorted duck sauce while making an order late last year.
The restaurant’s owner said Hirsch had been harassing them in recent times and that he had vandalized his car and showed up one time with a gun.
Police arrested Hirsch earlier this month, with Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz issuing a statement at the time.
“A petty dispute over a takeout order became an obsessive point of contention for the defendant, who began to stalk and harass employees at the restaurant for months,” Katz said. “The tragic end result was the murder of a hard-working employee.”
Hirsch has been ordered to stay in his home 24 hours day, except to visit his lawyer, doctor or do exercise for no more than one hour per day.
He is not permitted to go near the Great Wall Restaurant and is barred from going within a mile of airports or leaving New York City. Any violation of the terms or conditions is likely to result in his bail being revoked.
Holder told Hirsch that the public will most likely make sure that he complies.
“Apparently there are enough people around who just hate you that I’m sure they’re going to take a picture of you if they see you in an area where you should not be and send it to the court,” Holder said.
Congressmember Grace Meng tries to comfort Eva Zhao, whose husband Zhiwen Yen was shot and killed in Forest Hills on the April 30, while making a delivery for a Chinese restaurant. Yen, who lived in Middle Village, leaves behind a wife and three kids, ages 2, 12 and 14.
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