Zhiwen Yan and his wife Eva Zhao (GoFundMe) and a screenshot of Yan on his bike
Aug. 5, 2022 By Michael Dorgan
The man accused of the shooting death of a delivery worker in Forest Hills in late April was found dead in his home Friday after apparently taking his own life.
Glenn Hirsch, 51, was found dead by police inside his Jamaica apartment on 141st Street after failing to show up for a Friday morning court appearance, according to published reports.
Hirsch, who was out on bail, is believed to have shot himself and left behind a suicide note where he declared he was not responsible for gunning down 45-year-old Zhiwen Yan on April 30, according to the New York Post.
Yan was shot in the chest while on his scooter making deliveries for the Great Wall Chinese restaurant located at 104-37 Queens Blvd.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz confirmed the news that Hirsch was dead Friday and said she had wanted him to appear in court for the killing of Yan.
“The loss of a human life is always tragic,” Katz said. “Obviously, we would have preferred to try Mr. Glenn Hirsch for the calculated murder of Mr. Zhiwen Yan in a court of law, but this is no longer an option.”
“We once again express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Zhiwen Yan, who continue to grieve his tragic and senseless loss.”
Yan, a married father of three, had worked at the restaurant for more than a decade. He had immigrated to the U.S. from China about 20 years ago.
Cops said previously that Hirsch had a grudge against the restaurant, having had multiple arguments with workers at the eatery. He was particularly upset that he had been shorted duck sauce while making an order late last year. Police also found a huge stash of condiments inside his fridge — many of which were filled with duck sauce.
The restaurant’s owner said Hirsch had been harassing them prior to the shooting and that he had vandalized his car and showed up one time with a gun.
Hirsch was arrested in early June and was out on bail awaiting trial on murder, stalking and other charges.
His former attorney Michael Horn had argued that his client was innocent and that the police had nabbed the wrong person. Hirsch had since changed attorney.
