Officials said Monday that a lawyer, who had been in China for two-years after taking part in the 1989 Tiananmen square protest, was executed in his New York office.
Li Jinjin (66), an immigration lawyer was fatally stabbed at his Queen’s Office Monday morning, just before noon, according the New York City Police Department. Officers responded to a call about an assault taking place in Flushing, and found Li “unconscious, unresponsive” with “stab injuries to his neck and body,” police stated.
Police said that Li, from Great Neck, Long Island, had been declared dead at a local hospital.
Xiaoning Zhang (25 years old), was arrested in Queens on suspicion of murder, and two counts each of criminal possession with a weapon.
Tuesday was unclear if she retained a lawyer, or appeared in court for the first time. On Tuesday, attempts to reach her and her family members were unsuccessful.
Police have not provided any additional information regarding the slaying.
News organizations often used Li’s first name Jim to get insight and commentary about the Chinese dissident community, or relations between China, the West, in their coverage. Some Chinese expatriates in the U.S. were also represented by him.
Li was a lawyer to an independent labor organization that had challenged China’s government regarding worker rights before he was arrested for protesting. After seeking asylum in China, he settled in New York.