ARCADIA >> A man sought in the beating deaths of his teenage nephews in Arcadia, as well as an attack on his wife in La Canada Flintridge, is in custody after being apprehended in Hong Kong, authorities confirmed Saturday.
Deyun Shi, 44, boarded an airplane Friday after his 15- and 16-year-old nephews were found slain inside their home in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue in Arcadia, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
“Detectives learned that after suspect, Deyun Shi’s plane arrived at the Hong Kong airport, he was taken into custody by Hong Kong authorities,” according to Deputy Grace Medrano of the sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will work with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, The United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with law enforcement authorities in Hong Kong to initiate the extradition of Deyun Shi,” Medrano said.
The FBI was assisting in the apprehension, “by coordinating with the FBI’s Legal Attache and law enforcement authorities in Hong Kong, where the suspect has been taken into custody pending further review by officials in the United States and Hong Kong,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a written statement.
Arcadia Unified School District officials identified the victims as Anthony Lin, 15, and his brother William Lin, 16.
Both attended Arcadia High School, where Anthony was a freshman and William was a junior, AUSD spokesman Ryan Foran said.
“We are beyond saddened to learn of the death of the Lin brothers,” AUSD officials said in a written statement. “The loss of William and Anthony will be felt by the thousands of students, staff, friends and family that loved and knew them well in our tight-knit community. We know our community will stand united as we go through this unthinkable tragedy together.”
The night before the bodies of the Lin brothers were discovered, Shi attacked his wife with a wood-splitting tool in La Canada Flintridge, inflicting serious injuries, after learning she had filed for divorce, Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
At some point afterward, Shi allegedly made his was to the home of his wife’s brother, which he shared with his wife and their two teenage sons.
The parents of the slain teens had been visiting with Shi’s injured wife until the early morning hours Friday, and they noticed nothing amiss when they returned home and went to bed.
The boys were discovered fatally beaten when the parents awoke early Friday afternoon. It was unclear exactly when the killings took place.
Shi was already being sought for the attack on his wife when he was identified as the suspect in the double-homicide investigation, Hernandez said.
In the hours that followed the discovery of the teens’ bodies, detectives recovered Hsi’s SUV and learned that His, who had been staying with a friend in Alhambra, had boarded an airplane to China, officials said.
Officials initially said his ultimate destination was believed to be Beijing.
China has no extradition treaty with the U.S. for the return of wanted fugitives. Hong Kong, however, does.
The crime scene investigation at the Lin family apartment had concluded Saturday. A memorial of flowers, notes and a chemistry text book in front of Lin home continued growing as neighbors and loved ones paid their respects.
“I can’t imagine the pain of the parents,” said one emotional neighbor as she left a note at the memorial.
Prior to high school, both brothers attended Dana Middle School, Foran said.
AUSD officials offered condolences to the Lin family and asked the community respect the family’s privacy during “this extremely difficult time.”
“While this tragedy did not happen on campus, it will undoubtedly have an enormous impact throughout all our schools,” the AUSD statement continued. “We will provide additional counselors and support services this week when students return to school, and for as long as they are needed.”
A vigil was planned for 6 p.m. Monday at Arcadia High School, Foran said.
PHOTO by Walt Mancini
