‘It was like a scene from a movie’

(Editor’s Note: This is an eyewitness account of one of the customers on the murder of Hong Kong Chinese Kim Fai Tse, 33, in the early morning of Aug. 7, 2000 at BBQ Restaurant in Chalan Piao.

Two unidentified men, donned in ski mask, casually walked into the restaurant and gunned down Mr. Tse in full view of 12 other customers. The suspects are still at large.

Local authorities have linked the killing to the dreaded Hong Kong Triad, an international crime syndicate, forcing the Federal Bureau of Investigation to step into the investigation. The police have also sought the help of the Hong Kong Interpol.

For security reasons, Saipan Tribune has decided to withhold the identity of the witness.)

A week after I witnessed the murder incident at BBQ Restaurant in Chalan Piao, I am still having nightmares. It was like a scene from a movie that keeps haunting me.

I believe the experience has even changed me. I have become very suspicious now of almost everybody that I want the door and windows locked as soon as I am inside the house.

I went to the restaurant at around 3:00 a.m. with my friends. I have not been there for a long time so when my friends suggested to drop by and grab something to eat, I said why not.

It took sometime before our order arrived so I was already quite hungry when the barbecue was served. I was busy eating and talking when I suddenly saw two men walked in wearing ski mask. I was a little bit amused because I though they were wearing a costume.

And then it happened so fast, the two men pulled out their guns and started shooting at the man who was one table away from us. I immediately ducked under the table for safety as I covered my head with both arms. The gunmen were just about three steps away from me and I was so scared they might start shooting at everybody.

I think I heard over 10 shots fired by the two gunmen inside the restaurant. The burst of gunfire lasted barely 15 seconds but it was like a lifetime.

When the shooting stopped, there was complete silence. And then the wailing of a woman was heard, begging for someone to call the police because his male companion had been shot.
I felt myself shaking as it took me sometime to get up from under the table.

I saw the face of the man who was shot and I knew right away he was already dead. I ran out of the restaurant just like the other customers toward the backdoor.