QUEENS, NY – Minliang Zheng faces assault and weapon charges for allegedly shooting a woman in Queens over her relative’s debt. Extradited from Massachusetts, he now awaits trial.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz relayed the severity of the incident, emphasizing the shooter’s intention to intimidate and the collaborative effort with Massachusetts authorities to apprehend Zheng.
Zheng, 50, of Quincy, faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of the charges, which include assault and criminal possession of a weapon. His arraignment occurred on Thursday, and Supreme Court Justice Mary Bejarano scheduled his next court appearance for November 21.
The charges detail a premeditated act, with Zheng allegedly surveilling the victim’s house and following her sister before demanding money and shooting her. The investigation, led by detectives from the 111th Precinct Detective Squad and the Queens District Attorney’s Office, pieced together the events with the help of video surveillance and cellphone records.