A friend of the man accused of carrying out a gruesome car-trunk execution said the suspect had raised concerns about a struggling $20 million real estate investment years before the killing.
Tony Lu said Zhengfeng Bo, 67, sought out his help about two years before the deadly attack after raising concerns over a Pasadena apartment complex investment that was no longer generating positive cash flow.
“Basically, there’s no net positive cash flow for him or his business,” Lu told NBC Los Angeles.
Lu added that Zhengfeng, a real estate investor from China, became his friend after the pair were neighbors in Irvine.
“Both our families hung out at his place,” Lu said, adding that he was stunned by the allegations against his former neighbor.
Lu said Zhengfeng also expressed concerns about the victim, Shukur Aikebaer, who was allegedly kidnapped by Zhengfeng before the cold-blooded slaying.
Lu told NBC News that the suspect “was involved in some of his investment.”
“He knew he try to use him to make some money.”
Despite those concerns, Lu said Zhengfeng introduced him to Aikebaer several times over the years and always described him as a “nice family man and businessman.”
Zhengfeng and the owners of the Pasadena apartment complex have been involved in two separate lawsuits — including one filed as recently as last Monday — though the nature of the complaints remains unclear.
Court records show Zhengfeng was the CEO of Panshi Inc., while Aikebaer served as the commercial real estate firm’s chief financial officer and secretary.
Panshi, which owned a 70% stake in the Pasadena apartment complex, has also been locked in a legal battle with Panoptic Development over control of the property after voting in March to remove the company as the building’s manager.
Aikebaer was not named in either lawsuit.
San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson said investigators believe Zhengfeng, his brother Jianquan Bo, 66, and Aikebaer had a business relationship and that a dispute between them led to the deadly attack.
Authorities allege the brothers kidnapped Aikebaer from his Chino Hills home on July 29 after first cutting power to the residence in an apparent attempt to lure him outside.
When Aikebaer stepped out to investigate, Zhengfeng allegedly shot him once in the torso before the wounded man was forced into the trunk of a Nissan Altima.
A neighbor’s 911 call reporting gunfire and providing a description of the vehicle helped deputies quickly locate the car and attempt a traffic stop, but the suspects led authorities on a brief pursuit of about 2 miles.
Investigators said Zhengfeng then got out of the vehicle, opened the trunk and fatally shot Aikebaer in the head before sheriff’s deputies returned fire, killing him at the scene.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus previously said deputies were unaware anyone was inside the trunk before the shooting.
Jianquan was arrested and charged with murder and a special-circumstances allegation that the killing was committed during a kidnapping.
He pleaded not guilty Tuesday and is due back in court Aug. 12.
Anderson said Aikebaer’s family has been left devastated by the killing.
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