It was the pressure from competitive sales that allegedly led Hong Ri Wu to shoot and kill two merchants who ran a souvenir shop next door to him in Fisherman's Wharf, police told the Chronicle today.
On Sunday evening after Wu ended his work shift, he allegedly shot and killed Qiong Han Chu and Feng Ping Ou, two employees who worked next door on Jefferson Street. Police say Wu shot the two because they were selling rip-off versions of purses that he was also selling.
The two victims, both 30-year-old San Francisco residents, were pronounced dead at the scene and Wu was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder.
Apparently, the rivalry between the shops had been growing over the years. Yet neither had launched complaints to the property manager, who is supposed to settle disputes between competitors.
Other merchants and friends were shocked to hear that Wu, who they thought was a nice guy, had snapped.
Ted Kim, the owner of Grace Land Shirts and Gifts on Jefferson
Street, told the Chronicle that he knew Wu very well. "He's a very kind man,
actually. I'm really surprised," he said.
