Two Chinese chefs died in a KTV in Flushing on National Day

Two Chinese men who lived in Flushing and worked in the restaurant industry left home on the evening of National Day and were found dead in Tang Music Lounge, a karaoke restaurant in Maspeth, Queens, the next day. The police’s preliminary investigation showed that they were suspected of drug overdose. However, the family questioned the cause of death through their lawyer on the 7th, saying that the two had never taken drugs, but now it was reported that they both died of drug overdose at the same time, which must be a hidden story.

The family has not yet received the autopsy report, and the police are still investigating the case. Lawyer Sun Lantao called on all sectors of society to provide clues and assistance to help the family get justice and overcome difficulties.

One of the deceased, Dai Wenbin, is 47 years old. He came to the United States from Hengyang, Hunan 13 years ago. He currently holds a US green card and worked as a chef in a Chinese restaurant on Long Island. Another deceased, Chengbo Long, 35 years old, also came from Hengyang. He arrived in the United States a year ago and stayed at Dai’s house and worked in the same restaurant.

According to Dai’s wife, Ms. Tang, on the evening of July 4, Dai Wenbin received a call from a former co-worker from Fuzhou after get off work, who invited him to go out. Dai Wenbin told his wife that he would go out with his co-worker, and then there was no news.

When Ms. Tang went to work at 6 o’clock the next morning, she called her husband but failed. She thought he was drunk and did not return, so she left home alone. Soon, Dai’s son Xiao Dai told his mother that he could not contact his father and was very anxious. Xiao Dai, who worked in the same restaurant, said that his father and “Uncle Long” were chefs in the restaurant and had never been absent from work.

At 5 o’clock in the afternoon of the same day, Xiao Dai rushed home to check and found the notice left by the police at the door. He then contacted the police and was told that Dai Wenbin had unfortunately passed away.

Because it was rumored that the two deceased were suspected of drug overdose, the family strongly denied it, saying that Dai Wenbin was diligent in managing the family and never touched drugs, and Long Chengbo was even more abstaining from alcohol, smoking, and it was impossible for him to take drugs, let alone that the two died of drugs at the same time.

Xiao Dai emphasized that his father usually cared about his family. He worked six days a week and only rested on Mondays to share family time with his family. He also made his hometown snack “fish balls” by hand to sell to supplement the family income. Many people in the community had bought them.

Long Chengbo had only been in the United States for a year, and died in a foreign country before he could gain a foothold. The bad news spread to China, and his wife and children were heartbroken.

According to English media QNS, Tang KTV located at 55-30 58th Street in Maspeth was formerly “Dubai Night” (Huang Jia Inc). Dubai Night was revoked its liquor license by the New York State Liquor Administration as early as 2018 for suspected prostitution, gambling and drug trafficking. Dubai Night was raided by the police many times that year, and a large amount of ketamine, illegal cigarettes, and gambling equipment were seized, and 15 people including the owner of “Dubai Night” were arrested.