Hit and run kills two Asian community leaders

    Zhihua Lin and Liang Chun Li were headed home after a business meeting in Chinatown.

    Philadelphia’s Asian American community is mourning the loss of two leaders who were killed in a hit and run crash early Thursday. [audio: 100319LFHITRUN.mp3]

    Zhihua Lin and Liang Chun Li were headed home after a business meeting in Chinatown, when a speeding Buick ran several red light and hit the pair’s car at 16th and Vine Streets.

    Police say two men jumped out of the Buick – into another car, and sped away.

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    Police spokesman Sargaent Ray Evers says the Buick was not stolen, and is registered to a Philadelphia resident.  He says police found a handgun in the car.

    Evers says there are promising leads in the case, and expects an arrest soon.  He says police are using all the invesigate tools they possible can.

    Evers: That’s fingerprints, items that were in the car – that were left in the car – you have to remember that these two gentlemen who were involved in this incident quickly left that car and left a lot of things behind so that’s what’s going to ultimately have them arrested.

    Chinatown residents are reeling from the incident.  Bihon Guan is the former president of the Greater Philadelphia United Chinese American Chamber of Commerce.  He says both men were active in supporting the Chinese business community and helping new immigrants to the city.

    Guan: All Chinatown are deep sorrow for them.  It is a great loss for our Chinese community.

    It has been a difficult few years for the family of one of the deceased men – his son was killed in 2005 during at the family’s take-out restaurant. The son’s killer is still at-large.

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