Research scientist Zeng Shuo died on his 34th birthday chasing a laptop thief at a California Starbucks
- Two men charged with murder and other felonies after China-born research scientist dies from head injuries
A Kansas State University graduate who was working in the California tech industry was killed on New Year’s Eve while chasing a thief who had stolen his laptop at a Starbucks in Oakland.
Zeng Shuo, who was from China, graduated from the university in 2015. The day he died, he had been planning to celebrate his 34th birthday and the coming of the new year with a group of friends.
Oakland police on Thursday arrested two men in connection with the theft and Zeng’s death. On Friday, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged Byron Reed, 22, and Javon Lee, 21, with second degree robbery. Reed was also charged with special circumstance murder, and Lee was charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Investigators are still determining if additional suspects were involved.
Zeng frequently went to the Starbucks to work on his laptop, a colleague told Associated Press.
Witnesses told police that about 11:30am, a man approached Zeng, snatched his laptop and ran to a waiting vehicle. Zeng chased after the thief. The car drove off as Zeng grabbed the door handle, causing him to slam his head into a parked car.
“He was bleeding only from the head. His face was purple and blue,” Maria Chan, a florist shop owner across the street, said.
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Friends described Zeng as kind, smart and a hard worker. According to his LinkedIn page, Zeng was a research scientist for Aspera, an IBM company.
He lived a not far from Oakland’s Montclair District Starbucks. He died after being taken by ambulance to a hospital.
Strangers paid respects to Zeng by leaving flowers and tributes at scene of the incident.
Kansas State University officials said Zeng had earned a doctorate in physics.
“As a student at Kansas State University, Shuo was well known and very well-liked by everyone in the department,” said Brett DePaola, head of the university’s physics department and a professor who knew Zeng.
“The news of his death is shocking. The world has lost a very bright, friendly and wonderful person.”
