Zhiwen Yan and his wife (GoFundMe) and screenshot of Yan on his bike
June 2, 2022 By Christian Murray
The police have arrested a man for allegedly killing a food delivery worker while he was making deliveries in Forest Hills in late April.
Glenn Hirsch, 51, was arrested last night at his Briarwood apartment on murder and weapons charges for the shooting death of Zhiwen Yan.
Yan, 45, was gunned down at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, while he was on a 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 and was a recognizable face in the community. 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 restaurant.
The NYPD said that he had harassed the restaurant manager with a gun in the past and twice vandalized staff vehicles.
Video from the scene of the night of the killing showed Yan pulling onto 108th Street and 67th Drive in Forest Hills and someone approaching him on foot with a gun.
Surveillance video shows Yan getting on his scooter after delivering food to an apartment complex. He pulls out onto 108th street when someone walks up to him and shoots him in the chest. Suspect drives off in a light gray or tan Lexus eastbound on 67 Drive. pic.twitter.com/U3MuDwTnPa
— Christina Fan (@Christinafantv) May 1, 2022
Yan is seen trying to move away from the gunman before being fired on several times. He was hit in the chest and was later pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital.
Following the arrest, Yan’s widow released the following statement:
“We were all relieved that someone had been arrested. We are grateful to the NYPD and have full confidence that the Queens District Attorney will bring justice to Zhiwen Yan, a loving and kind husband, father, son, friend and community member.”
Friends in the community have been leaving flowers, cards and hand-written notes at the restaurant since he was killed.
Congressmember Grace Meng tries to comfort Eva Zhao, whose husband Zhiwen Yen was shot and killed in Forest Hills on the night of Saturday, 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.
