On the cold night of February 19, 1983, the lively atmosphere within the Wah Mee gambling club, tucked away in Seattle's Chinatown International District, turned into a scene of unimaginable horror. Among the patrons and staff whose lives were tragically cut short that evening was Lung Wing Chin, a 60-year-old fisherman and cook of Chinese descent.
He, along with twelve others, fell victim to a brutal robbery that escalated into one of the city's most infamous mass murders.
Three young men, known to the club's regulars, were buzzed through the security door shortly before midnight. Kwan Fai "Willie" Mak, Benjamin Ng, and Wai Chiu "Tony" Ng had planned a robbery, but their familiarity with the victims meant they could be easily identified. To eliminate any witnesses, they systematically bound and shot each person inside the club. The assailants fired numerous shots, ensuring no one would be left to testify against them. After taking what money they could find, the three fled, leaving a scene of devastation behind.
The crime, however, was not without a witness. One man, Wai Yok Chin, survived the attack despite being shot. He managed to free himself and alert the authorities, providing crucial information that led to the swift identification of the suspects. Within hours, Benjamin Ng and Willie Mak were in police custody. The third suspect, Tony Ng, managed to escape to Canada, sparking an international manhunt that would last for over a year.
Eventually, all three perpetrators were brought to justice. Willie Mak and Benjamin Ng were tried and convicted on multiple counts of murder. Mak was initially sentenced to death, though this was later commuted to a life sentence, the same fate as Benjamin Ng. Tony Ng, the last to be captured, was ultimately convicted of robbery and assault. He was paroled after serving more than three decades in prison and was subsequently deported. The lone survivor's testimony was instrumental in securing the convictions, closing a dark chapter in Seattle's history that began with the senseless deaths of thirteen individuals, including Lung Wing Chin.
