Suspected triad member killed in ‘mistaken identity attack’ in northern Hong Kong
- The 21-year-old victim, thought to be a member of Sun Yee On triad, was found lying motionless on Tuen Mun Road near the junction of San Tak Street
- Police believe members of 14K triad assaulted him over another attack in which a 17-year-old boy was beaten up in Tin Shui Wai
A suspected triad member was killed when he was hit and dragged by a car in what police believed was a mistaken identity attack by a rival gang, a source said on Monday.
Five men, believed to be members of Sun Yee On triad, were attacked with knives and retractable batons by about 20 gangsters from the 14K triad at the junction of Tuen Mun Heung Sze Wui Road and Tsing Yin Street in Tuen Mun at about 2.30am on Sunday.
A police source said he believed the five, including a 21-year-old man who was killed, were mistaken by the 14K members to be involved in another attack in which a 17-year-old boy was assaulted in Tin Shui Wai on Saturday night.
After the Tuen Mun attack, the assailants fled in several cars, according to police.
“We believe the 21-year-old victim tried to stop one of the cars but was hit and dragged for a distance,” the source said, adding that there was a 50-metre-long trail of blood at the scene.
The man, surnamed Chow, was found lying motionless on Tuen Mun Road near the junction of San Tak Street, about 300 metres away from the site of the attack.
“He suffered multiple injuries and was certified dead at the scene,” police said in a statement.
A postmortem examination will be carried out to ascertain the exact cause of death.
Officers later found a private car, with suspected links to the case, in the Sha Kong Wai area of Tin Shui Wai on the same day. Four men and one woman, who were inside the vehicle, were arrested by police.
The case has been classified as murder and conspiracy to wound. Detectives from the New Territories North regional crime unit are investigating the matter.
As of Monday morning, the five suspects – aged 19 to 25 – were being held for questioning.
Officers appealed to witnesses or anyone with information on the matter to contact them on 3661 3362.