NYPD charges 16-year-old in deadly robbery of healthcare worker

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a home health aide in Manhattan, New York City police announced. The NYC detained teen is accused of killing Ying Zhu Liu, 57, during a violent robbery on September 9.

The teenager, whose identity was not released due to his age, faces additional charges of burglary, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police. Authorities are still searching for two other young suspects believed to be involved in the incident.

The Manhattan robbery homicide occurred inside Liu's Lower Manhattan apartment building just after 11 p.m. Police reports indicate that two individuals wearing black ski masks followed Liu's 61-year-old husband into the building and attempted to rob him in the elevator.

When the couple's 32-year-old son witnessed the robbery in progress on the eighth floor, he tried to intervene but was reportedly pistol-whipped by one of the assailants. Hearing the commotion, Liu emerged from her apartment with a stick to confront the attackers. During the altercation, she was shot in the face.

The suspects took the husband's cell phone and then reportedly fled the area. Liu was declared dead at the scene.

Lin Rong Yan, Liu's son, expressed his grief to the New York Post, stating, "It's all surreal. I feel only sadness right now."