Queens man sentenced after fatal home invasion ended with more than 100 stab wounds
QUEENS, N.Y. — A Flushing man who broke into an apartment in the middle of the night and stabbed a resident more than 100 times with a pair of scissors has been sentenced to 18 years to life in prison.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that 39-year-old Yang Zhang was sentenced Wednesday for the May 2022 killing of 41-year-old Yat Ming Wong during a violent burglary inside a Flushing apartment.
Prosecutors said Zhang climbed onto a third-floor balcony on 57th Road at approximately 2 a.m. on May 22, 2022, and entered the residence while Wong and his wife were asleep.
According to investigators, Wong confronted the intruder after being awakened. A violent struggle followed, allowing Wong’s wife to escape the bedroom unharmed.
During the attack, Zhang repeatedly stabbed Wong in the head, neck, arms and legs with a pair of scissors.
Authorities said Wong suffered more than 100 stab and slash wounds and died from his injuries.
Zhang pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 13 in satisfaction of all charges. Queens Supreme Court Justice Ira Margulis sentenced him to 18 years to life in prison on June 3.
Prosecutors also said Zhang burglarized another Flushing residence on Haight Street the day before the homicide. No one was home during that break-in.
Key Points
- A Flushing man was sentenced to 18 years to life for the 2022 murder of Yat Ming Wong.
- Prosecutors said the victim was stabbed more than 100 times with a pair of scissors during a home invasion.
- The victim’s wife escaped unharmed after fleeing the apartment bedroom during the attack.
