In the predawn hours of February 19, 1983, the festive atmosphere inside the Wah Mee Club, a private gambling den in Seattle's Chinatown-International District, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Among the thirteen people who would lose their lives that night was a 60-year-old man named George Mar. The motive for the brutal attack was robbery, a heist planned by three men familiar to the club's patrons.
The evening had begun like many others at the Wah Mee, with patrons enjoying
food, socializing, and games of chance in what was considered a communal space. However, the camaraderie was shattered when Kwan Fai 'Willie' Mak, Wai Chiu 'Tony' Ng, and Benjamin Ng initiated their deadly plan. The assailants, at least two of whom had been socializing in the club earlier that evening, rounded up everyone present. The fourteen victims, including George Mar, were bound and systematically shot. The lone survivor of the massacre, Wai Yok Chin, would later provide crucial testimony that helped bring the perpetrators to justice.
The aftermath of the Wah Mee Massacre sent shockwaves through the city and the nation, marking it as Washington state's deadliest mass shooting. The investigation led to the swift arrest of Willie Mak and Benjamin Ng. Tony Ng managed to elude capture for nearly two years before he was finally apprehended. Ultimately, Willie Mak and Benjamin Ng were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Tony Ng was convicted on robbery and assault charges and was paroled after serving 30 years, after which he was deported.
