Two men charged in killing of Oakland man who chased after his stolen laptop
OAKLAND >> Tuesday should have been special for Shuo Zeng. He spent the morning of his birthday working on his laptop at a Montclair coffee shop, not far from his Oakland apartment. He planned to celebrate his 34th birthday and ring in the New Year with friends later that night.
Zeng never made it. The research engineer and scientist died Tuesday from major injuries suffered while chasing thieves who stole his laptop at 11:37 a.m. at Starbucks on Mountain Boulevard.
Prosecutors on Friday charged two men, Javon Lee, 21, and Byron Reed, 22, both of San Francisco, with murder and other felonies and are searching for a third accomplice. Lee is suspected of being one of two men who snatched the laptop and Reed is accused of driving the getaway car which hit Zeng, who was found on the pavement in the 6100 block of Antioch Street around the corner from the coffee shop.
Reed, who according to court records is on parole for robbery, was charged with special circumstance murder and second-degree robbery. The special circumstance allegation is that the murder was committed during a robbery, according to court records.
Lee was charged with involuntary manslaughter and second-degree robbery. He also has a prior robbery conviction, the records say.
A LinkedIn profile for Zeng said he had been a research engineer and scientist for Aspera in Emeryville working on deep-learning and computer-network research and development projects since 2015. Before then, he had earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Sichuan University and a doctorate from Kansas State University.
At the campus, he developed a deep love of photography, turning his camera and multiple lenses on local and natural sights around the university’s campus in Manhattan, Kansas, as well as on road trips to state and national parks in New Mexico,
Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California.
In his profile bio for the photo-sharing site 500px, he described himself as “a wanderer who appreciates beautiful and meaningful photography in his spare time. I carry my gear with me whenever I get a chance to see the outside world. Reviewing my work and others’ work is my favorate (sic) thing to do, relaxing and enjoyable.”
His death stunned the busy Montclair shopping district, where residents have covered the Starbucks’ windows with sticky notes to send love to his family and friends. On Thursday, Zeng’s 2015 Tesla Model S was still parked on Mountain Boulevard, only steps away from the cafe.
According to court documents police obtained surveillance footage showing Lee and another suspect stealing the laptop from Zeng. Based on surveillance video and witnesses, Reed was identified as the getaway driver. The men were arrested at about 4 p.m. Tuesday in the 9500 block of MacArthur Boulevard, where police also found the car.
They were expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland. Both men are being held without bail.
According to the court records, Reed was convicted of second-degree robbery in San Francisco in November 2017 and was sent to prison. Lee was convicted of second degree robbery in February 2017 in San Francisco and was placed on probation, authorities said.
The Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information that would lead to an arrest in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department Homicide Section at 510-238-3821.
Check back for updates.