Full Notification

Modesto, CA- Modesto Police Detectives have made an arrest in the brutal murder of a Modesto restaurant owner. Investigators believe the suspect acted alone in spite of the violence of the assault.

On Thursday May 5th, just before 3:00 a.m., family members called 911 and reported they found the victim, Wing Ming Chan, a 47-year-old Modesto resident, lying unconscious in the China Gourmet Restaurant. The restaurant is located at 2401 E Orangeburg Avenue, in northeast Modesto and Chan was the owner of the restaurant.

When paramedics arrived, they immediately called for the police to respond. Chan was pronounced deceased at the scene and officers determined Chan had been the victim of a brutal assault, based upon the traumatic injuries he had suffered. Investigators from the Homicide Unit responded to the scene and began an intensive murder investigation.

Officers immediately began to interview several witnesses, including family members and workers from the restaurant. In addition, investigators followed-up on investigative leads, and began to process the crime scene at the restaurant.

Detectives were able to identify Zhi Jian Mei, a 28-year-old Modesto resident, as the one responsible for the violent assault. Mei is an employee at the restaurant and worked for Chan. Mei was contacted at his apartment in the 1400 block of Floyd Avenue, on Thursday morning. He was later booked into the Stanislaus County Jail for one count of Murder.

Investigators have learned that on Wednesday May 4th, sometime after 9:00 p.m., Chan was inside his closed restaurant. Mei arrived to the restaurant and an argument quickly ensued. As the argument escalated, Mei went to the kitchen area of the restaurant and retrieved a large straight edged blocked “cleaver” type knife and used it to violently assaulted Chan. Chan received numbers injuries as a result of the assault.

When family members realized Chan had not returned home from work, they went to the restaurant, and they discovered Chan’s lifeless body.

Investigators are still continuing to follow-up on this case and ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to please call Detective Jim Munoz at (209) 342-9131 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers by sending a text message to 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message.

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(Note: Booking photograph was not available at the time of Press Release)