Persons of interest cleared in Chinese restaurant slaying, Deputies search for gunman

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — WFTV learned Orange County investigators have cleared the two men named as persons of interests in the shooting death of a Chinese restaurant employee.

After an investigation, 17-year-old Adriel McKee and 33-year-old Glenn Quick II were both cleared in connection to the shooting at the China Wok restaurant in Pine Hills.

Investigators said they were still searching for the gunman who shot and killed 53-year-old Ying Jie Sun during a robbery Wednesday night.

Investigators said the two frequent the area near the restaurant, but won't say whether they were able to identify the killer from the surveillance video.

Investigators said the armed man walked into the restaurant on Silver Star Road and Pine Hills Road, wearing a mask and demanded cash.

They said the incident took a matter of minutes, and within seconds it took a violent turn as the robber tried to get to the cash drawer.

"When he came up to one of the workers, there was a language barrier. She didn't understand what he was saying. He shot her in the head," said Jane Watrel of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives said the gunman then pistol-whipped Sun's co-worker.

After the shooting, another employee opened the cash register and the robber fled with an unknown amount of money, investigators said.

Deputies said there were several witnesses to the shooting, including a man outside who didn't want to be identified.

"I couldn't really see his face because he had a mask or a shirt on his face or whatever. It looked like a T-shirt wrapped around his face like a ski mask," said the witness.

Investigators said Sun's first language was Mandarin Chinese. There is a surveillance video from the restaurant, but it's not being released at this time.

People have placed flowers outside the restaurant and notes about Sun.

The people who work at the barber shop next door called her "mommy." They said Sun took care of them, gave them tea, and told them stories about China and what it was like.

"To me, she was a good person. (She) had a good personality. Every time I came in here to buy food she always came in so nice," said customer Abdis Sintine. "It's really sad the way she died because she didn't deserve that."

Anyone with information on the two persons of interest are asked to call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477)

WFTV