[engacenus]

Vehicle Kills Student, 24, as He Flees 2 Attackers

By RAY RIVERA and JASON GRANT
Published: April 6, 2008

A Columbia University graduate student was hit and killed by a vehicle Friday night in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan while trying to escape an assault, the authorities said Saturday.

The student, Minghui Yu, 24, was on the median on Broadway between 122nd and 123rd Streets about 9 p.m. when a small group of young men drew near and one attacked him, the police said. Mr. Yu struggled and broke free and ran across one southbound lane before being struck by a Jeep Cherokee in the southbound lanes. Mr. Yu was taken to St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, where he was pronounced dead, the police said.

A law-enforcement official said Saturday night that a juvenile was in custody and was being questioned in the attack but had not been charged.

Detectives were trying to enhance video images taken from security cameras in the area to get a better description of the group, who the police said might be teenagers. At least one recording shows Mr. Yu struggling with the attacker.

The driver of the Cherokee and his wife, who was in the passenger seat, stopped at the scene and told the police that the victim had “darted out” and that they had not seen him. The driver was not charged.

Mr. Yu had been visiting his girlfriend’s apartment at 123rd and Broadway before he was attacked, the police said. His backpack, wallet and cellphone and cash were found with his body, the police said.

Lee C. Bollinger, the president of Columbia University, sent an e-mail message to students and faculty on Saturday informing them of Mr. Yu’s death.

“As a community we mourn the loss of one our members, and especially of a young person with much to look forward to in a life of promise,” Mr. Bollinger wrote.

Mr. Yu, a native of China, was a Ph.D. candidate in statistics and a teaching fellow in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He was also the public relations chairman for the Columbia University Chinese Students and Scholars Association.

Zheyuan Chen, 21, a Ph.D. student in chemistry, said he knew Mr. Yu from their days together at the University of Science and Technology of China, where they received their undergraduate degrees. Mr. Chen said Mr. Yu studied physics there and was part of a program for gifted scholars.

“It’s hard to accept this fact, my best friend is gone,” Mr. Chen said.

Mr. Chen said Mr. Yu was well liked among Columbia’s Chinese students. “He was kind of like a leader,” Mr. Chen said.

Outside Mr. Yu’s apartment building on 121st Street, friends from the Chinese student association milled about. The friends placed bouquets of white flowers and lit two candles in front of large photo of Mr. Yu.

Among those who gathered at building was Chao Sun, who said she had been dating Mr. Yu for about eight months. “He’s a really nice guy, and he’s worried about others,” said Ms. Sun. “I can’t imagine he would do anything to harm other people.”

Jian Zhang, the president of the Chinese student association, said he had spoken with the Chinese consul general’s office and was told that Mr. Yu’s parents had been contacted in China and would be coming to New York in the next few days.

Some students in the area expressed concerns about the safety of the neighborhood. In April 2006, Broderick J. Hehman, a New York University student, was killed at 125th Street and Park Avenue when he was hit by a Mercedes-Benz while trying to flee a group of attackers. At least four teenagers were arrested in connection with his death.

“This area is very dangerous,” said Hyun Kim, a Columbia graduate student who lives a few blocks from Mr. Yu. Ms. Kim, a native of Korea, said she and her husband and 5-year-old daughter try not to go out at night out of fear for their safety.

“It could happen to anyone living in this area,” she said, referring to what happened to Mr. Yu.

Christine Hauser contributed reporting.

Copyright 2008 The New York Times.

[blenIgnigeSef]

Thanks BR for finding that news article; and your highlight referencing TLOZ - an eerily similar episode, and not far from the attack on our old friend B. Hehman. Here is a link to a Video news report.

[Abraham]

Info. Thanks for the link to the video.

I couldn't believe it when I came across the article.

Just 2 days ago I had posted my tribute to TLOZ, and had gone back today to read other tributes.

The incidents were so similar I thought I had accidently clicked on a link in the old thread.

[Kilaoksrsa]

For a second I thought it was a repost. I was HOPING it was a repost.

Who the hell are these kids and is this area THAT bad?

[Zptmsemk]

^^^ Just horrible. I saw that on the news last week; just makes me sick when I hear stories like that. What can drive a person to do something so horrible to another human being, is just beyond me. Some people just have no respect for people or life in general.

[Rffkwfct]

Where are the blue tracksuited guys when you need them. They would have kung fu-ed the living crap out of those youths, and the car all in one go!

Oh no, a flaming torch is more important than any Glorious Citizen - I forgot.

[pKgGpUlF]

Mr. Front_Porch and I have been looking at apartments right in this area and I would not have said that it was that bad. There is a housing project to the north but we had walked around at night and it felt fine.

ali r.
{downtown broker}