Second teen busted in deadly shooting of NYC mom who was trying to defend husband, son from violent muggers: cops

A tragic incident occurred on September 9th, when 57-year-old Ying Zhu Liu was shot and killed while trying to defend her husband and son from a pair of muggers in their Lower Manhattan condo building. The suspects, wearing ski masks, followed Liu’s husband, Shen Yan, into the elevator of their building, where they brandished a handgun and stole his phone and cash.

Upon reaching the 8th floor where the Yan family lived, Shen Yan warned his son, Lin Rong Yan, of the armed muggers. Despite his warning, Lin Rong Yan attempted to intervene and was violently pistol-whipped, sustaining facial fractures. Hearing the commotion, Ying Zhu Liu stepped out of the apartment to help her family, only to be fatally shot in the face at close range by one of the assailants.

Ying Zhu Liu, a dedicated home health aide, tragically lost her life in the attempt to protect her loved ones. The senseless act of violence shook the community and led to the arrest of two suspects. Joshua Bell, 19, was recently charged with murder, robbery, burglary, and criminal possession of a weapon in connection to Liu’s death. Bell, who has a prior arrest record for robbery, was escorted out of the police station in handcuffs, awaiting his arraignment.

Another suspect, Dante Schaller, 16, was also arrested and faces the same charges as Bell. Despite his young age, Schaller will be prosecuted as an adult due to a prior felony case for assaulting a police officer. The Manhattan DA’s Office is pursuing justice for Ying Zhu Liu and her family, seeking accountability for the senseless violence that took her life.

The community mourns the loss of a beloved caregiver and advocate, while seeking closure and justice for the tragic events that unfolded in their neighborhood. As the legal process unfolds, the memory of Ying Zhu Liu’s bravery and sacrifice will be honored, and her family’s resilience in the face of tragedy will be remembered.