In the quiet borough of Queens, a grim discovery was made on the evening of September 19, 2021, that would unravel a story of betrayal and violence. Justin Li, a 26-year-old male, was found deceased in a Flushing apartment, the victim of a single gunshot wound to the head. The discovery was made by police officers from the 109th Precinct who were conducting a wellness check at the residence, which belonged to Li's girlfriend.
They found him lying on the bed, covered by bedding.
The investigation into the death of Justin Li quickly turned into a homicide case. It was determined that Li, a resident of Whitestone, was married and his wife had been the one to call the police and request the wellness check when she couldn't reach him. The focus of the investigation soon fell upon his 31-year-old girlfriend, Haiyan Deng. Authorities alleged that Deng had shot Li in her apartment before fleeing the state in his vehicle.
A multi-state search for Deng ended on September 22, 2021, in New Mexico. A state trooper came across Deng after the car she was driving broke down. During the encounter, the officer realized she was wanted in connection with the Queens homicide. Deng resisted arrest but was ultimately taken into custody with the help of a passerby and local sheriff's deputies. A search of her vehicle uncovered a loaded revolver that ballistics testing would later match to the bullet that killed Li. Personal belongings of the victim were also found in her possession.
Following her arrest, Deng was extradited back to Queens to face a series of serious charges. In January 2022, a Queens County grand jury indicted her on charges of second-degree murder, criminal possession of a weapon, burglary, assault, criminal mischief, and harassment. The burglary charge stemmed from an incident that occurred just days before the murder, on September 11, 2021, when Deng unlawfully entered Li's Bayside home and confronted his wife.
Ultimately, Haiyan Deng pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree and burglary. In October 2024, she was sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison, ensuring that the final chapter of this tragic story would be one of accountability for the life that was lost.
