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Jermaine Montgomery
Yong Hui Zhang
This man (left) used the victim's credit card at the Four Mile Fork Shell station in Spotsylvania County at 10:45 on the night of the abduction.
Marcey White
Members of Piedmont Search and Rescue of Richmond comb a field near Ladysmith for evidence to locate missing Yong Hui Zhang. Fredericksburg Police believe that Zhang was robbed and abducted Thursday night.
A bronze 4-door 2004 Nissan Sentra, similar to this, with Virginia tags JPB-6401 is also missing.
The remains of police crime scene tape at the corner of Charles and Dixon Streets in Fredericksburg at the the location where city police believe a food delivery person was robbed and possibly abducted on Thursday evening, July 3, 2008. Robert A. Martin/The Free Lance-Star
China Express on U.S. 1 in Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg Police recieved a call that the restuarant's delivery driver was missing. Police believe that the driver was robbed and abducted at the corner of Charles and Dixon Streets in Fredericksburg on Thursday evening, July 3, 2008. Robert A. Martin/The Free Lance-Star |
Police agencies up and down the east coast have been alerted to help locate a young man who apparently was viciously attacked and abducted while making a food delivery in Fredericksburg Thursday night.
Yong Hui Zhang, 24, left his parents' China Express restaurant at 1500 Jefferson Davis Highway at 9:20 p.m. to make three deliveries, city police spokeswoman Natatia Bledsoe said.
When he hadn't returned by closing time, his relatives contacted police at 10:15 p.m. and asked for assistance.
Police learned that Zhang made the first two deliveries without incident, Bledsoe said. But, at the third delivery site, 202 Charles St., police found a large pool of blood and one shoe that is believed to belong to the victim.
Bledsoe said the Charles Street address is a vacant apartment. The suspect or suspects apparently lured Zhang there with a "bogus" food order and ambushed him outside the door.
Police received a break Friday when they learned that a store camera at the
The suspect used the victim's credit card at 10:45 on the night of the abduction.
The suspect appears to be a tall and strongly built black male but his age is undetermined. He was wearing a do-rag and has facial hair.
The suspect is believed to be accompanied by a 36-year-old wo-man named Marcey White.
Bledsoe said White is not considered a suspect in this case, but she is assumed to have information germane to this investigation. Due to the nature and violence of this crime, there is concern for White's safety, Bledsoe said.
Zhang and his vehicle, a bronze four-door 2004 Nissan Sentra with Virginia tags JPB-6401, were still missing yesterday.
Bledsoe said investigative leads Thursday night brought police to Bull Church Road in Caroline County near the Virginia Bazaar off Interstate 95. A search that included a state police helicopter, Carolina County sheriff's deputies and police dogs was conducted overnight, but nothing was found.
The search continued yesterday and city police and Caroline authorities were joined by professional volunteer searchers coordinated through the Virginia Emergency Operations Center in Richmond.
Bledsoe said police are also seeking the public's assistance in finding Zhang as quickly as possible. At best he is presumed to be gravely injured or incapacitated.
"Obviously we're extremely concerned about his well-being," Bledsoe said.
Zhang's family immigrated to the United States from China and bought China Express. Zhang, who is single, has lived here for five years and has never been in any trouble, Bledsoe said.
He is described as an Asian male, 5 feet 7 inches tall and 140 pounds with slight facial hair. He was last seen wearing shorts and a blue-and-white, horizontal striped shirt.
Anyone with information about there whereabouts of Zhang or his car is asked to call city police at 540/373-3122 or their local law-enforcement agency.
Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com
