Kidnapper’s buddy reveals potential motive for lethal Chino Hills trunk execution

A buddy of the person accused of finishing up a grotesque car-trunk execution mentioned the suspect had raised considerations a couple of struggling $20 million actual property funding years earlier than the killing.

Tony Lu mentioned Zhengfeng Bo, 67, sought out his assist about two years earlier than the lethal assault after elevating considerations over a Pasadena house advanced funding that was not producing optimistic money move.

“Mainly, there’s no internet optimistic money move for him or his enterprise,” Lu instructed NBC Los Angeles.

Lu added that Zhengfeng, an actual property investor from China, turned his buddy after the pair had been neighbors in Irvine.

“Each our households frolicked at his place,” Lu mentioned, including that he was shocked by the allegations towards his former neighbor.

Lu mentioned Zhengfeng additionally expressed considerations in regards to the sufferer, Shukur Aikebaer, who was allegedly kidnapped by Zhengfeng earlier than the cold-blooded slaying.

Lu instructed NBC Information that the suspect “was concerned in a few of his funding.”

“He knew he attempt to use him to make some cash.”

Regardless of these considerations, Lu mentioned Zhengfeng launched him to Aikebaer a number of occasions through the years and at all times described him as a “good household man and businessman.”

Zhengfeng and the homeowners of the Pasadena house advanced have been concerned in two separate lawsuits — together with one filed as just lately as final Monday — although the character of the complaints stays unclear.

Court docket data present Zhengfeng was the CEO of Panshi Inc., whereas Aikebaer served because the industrial actual property agency’s chief monetary officer and secretary.

Panshi, which owned a 70% stake within the Pasadena house advanced, has additionally been locked in a authorized battle with Panoptic Growth over management of the property after voting in March to take away the corporate because the constructing’s supervisor.

Aikebaer was not named in both lawsuit.

San Bernardino County District Legal professional Jason Anderson mentioned investigators imagine Zhengfeng, his brother Jianquan Bo, 66, and Aikebaer had a enterprise relationship and {that a} dispute between them led to the lethal assault.

Authorities allege the brothers kidnapped Aikebaer from his Chino Hills residence on July 29 after first chopping energy to the residence in an obvious try to lure him exterior.

When Aikebaer stepped out to analyze, Zhengfeng allegedly shot him as soon as within the torso earlier than the wounded man was pressured into the trunk of a Nissan Altima.

A neighbor’s 911 name reporting gunfire and offering an outline of the car helped deputies rapidly find the automobile and try a visitors cease, however the suspects led authorities on a short pursuit of about 2 miles.

Investigators mentioned Zhengfeng then received out of the car, opened the trunk and fatally shot Aikebaer within the head earlier than sheriff’s deputies returned fireplace, killing him on the scene.

Sheriff Shannon Dicus beforehand mentioned deputies had been unaware anybody was contained in the trunk earlier than the taking pictures.

Jianquan was arrested and charged with homicide and a special-circumstances allegation that the killing was dedicated throughout a kidnapping.

He pleaded not responsible Tuesday and is due again in court docket Aug. 12.

Anderson mentioned Aikebaer’s household has been left devastated by the killing.

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