In the quiet, upscale suburb of Pittsford, New York, the facade of a peaceful family life was shattered on February 9, 2015, with the violent death of 49-year-old Ling Tan. Monroe County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a domestic incident at the Tan residence on Coach Side Lane. Upon arrival, they discovered Ling Tan's body inside the home; he had been shot multiple times at close range with a shotgun. Standing in the driveway of the home were his 19-year-old son, Charles Tan, and his wife, Qing Tan.
Charles Tan, a sophomore at Cornell University at the time, was quickly identified as the primary suspect. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with the second-degree murder of his father. Investigators found a shotgun in the family's garage, believed to be the weapon used in the killing. The investigation revealed a history of domestic turmoil, with deputies having been called to the Tan home on several occasions for prior domestic disputes.
The case against Charles Tan proceeded to a murder trial in Monroe County Court in September 2015. The defense argued that Ling Tan had been abusive towards his family, painting a picture of a troubled home life. After weeks of testimony and deliberation, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, resulting in a hung jury. In a surprising turn, the presiding judge later dismissed the murder charge against Charles Tan, citing insufficient evidence.
Despite the dismissal of the state murder charge, Charles Tan's legal troubles were far from over. A federal investigation was launched into the acquisition of the shotgun used to kill his father. This investigation revealed that Charles, a Canadian citizen, had illegally arranged for a fellow Cornell student to purchase the firearm for him. In 2018, he pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges. A judge sentenced him to 20 years in federal prison, concluding that he had obtained the weapon with the premeditated intent to murder his father. Later, in a 2019 court filing aimed at having his sentence reconsidered, Charles Tan admitted to killing his father, citing the history of abuse his family had endured.
