57-year-old mother fatally shot while defending family from robbers in Manhattan condo

A 57-year-old mother was shot and killed while trying to protect her husband and son from armed robbers in their Manhattan condo on Monday night.

The tragic incident occurred at the Two Bridges condominium building on 44 Market Street. The victim, Ying Zhu Liu, a home health aide, was found dead in the hallway of the condo building shortly after 11 pm. 

“It’s all surreal,” said Liu’s 32-year-old son, Lin Rong Yan, in a statement to the New York Post. “I feel only sadness right now.”

The robbery began when two suspects wearing black ski masks followed Liu’s 61-year-old husband into the building's elevator and attempted to rob him. Yan, who had buzzed his father into the building, was waiting in the hallway when he saw a struggle break out as the elevator doors opened. When Yan tried to intervene, one of the robbers pistol-whipped him.

After hearing the altercation taking place, Liu emerged from her apartment armed with a stick to defend her husband and son. She was then shot in the face by one of the robbers right in front of her husband and child. After the shooting, the robbers stole Liu’s husband's cell phone and fled the scene. The suspects have not yet been apprehended.

A family friend expressed disbelief over the violence, telling the New York Post, “In the past 10-something years, no such crimes happened in this building. But this is America.”

The friend added that the family had immigrated to the United States over ten years ago and had few relatives in the area. "He called me this morning. I thought it was just a normal robbery. I didn’t expect [it was] that serious."

The New York Police Department is still investigating the incident. According to the police description, the gunman was wearing a black and red hooded jacket, black pants, and white sneakers, while the second suspect was dressed in a black hoodie, black pants, and black and white sneakers. The suspects are not believed to have been known to the victims.