High-stakes betrayal in NYC’s real estate world leads to federal murder-for-hire trial

September 19, 2023 Rob Abruzzese

U.S. District Courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn
Photo: Robert Abruzzese

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Brooklyn’s Federal Court is bracing itself for what’s already being touted as one of the most high-profile trials of the year, kicking off Monday with opening statements in a shocking murder-for-hire case.

Qing Ming (Allen) Yu, Antony Abreu and Zhe (Zack) Zhang face trial for their alleged roles in a murder-for-hire plot that led to the 2019 execution-style killing of businessman Xin (Chris) Gu in Flushing, Queens. Prosecutors claim Yu ordered the hit on Gu, a former employee who started a rival company, with Abreu as the shooter and Zhang as the getaway driver. If convicted, the trio could receive mandatory life sentences.

The incident started shortly after a Lunar New Year celebration in February 2019 when an execution-style hit on Xin (Chris) Gu, an enterprising businessman, took place in Flushing, Queens.

The alleged mastermind behind this cold-blooded crime is Qing Ming (Allen) Yu, former boss of the victim. The prosecution argues that Yu, grappling with the financial downfall of his real estate development firm, Amaco, conspired to eliminate the competition. Gu had quit Amaco, starting his own venture, KG Management, and reportedly whisked away several of Yu’s former clients.

Details emerging from court filings sketch a sinister plot: Antony Abreu, allegedly the triggerman, and Zhe (Zack) Zhang, supposedly the getaway driver. Following the brutal act, in a brazen display of audacity, Zhang purportedly gave Abreu an opulent Richard Mille wristwatch as a reward.

The drama unfolded after Gu’s spirited Lunar New Year bash. As the night faded and the early hours crept in, Gu waited for his Uber outside a Flushing karaoke joint. That’s when disaster struck. Abreu is believed to have approached Gu, firing multiple shots and extinguishing a promising life in mere moments.

Yu, the supposed orchestrator of this treachery, didn’t cut corners in his own life despite his company’s financial troubles. Reports have highlighted Yu’s substantial real estate portfolio, including a sprawling eight-bedroom residence in Oyster Bay, Long Island, pegged at over $2 million. Meanwhile, Zhang was ensconced in a posh $9,000-a-month rental in Arcadia, California. Abreu, the alleged shooter, hails from Queens.

The trio could be looking at mandatory life sentences for their purported roles in this heinous act.