Four more charged in Durham restaurateur's shooting death

Zheng was gunned down in his car, and his wife, Shirley Chan, was grazed by bullets. Still, she was able to return fire with a gun the family keeps on hand to fend off robbery attempts.

Hykeem Deshun Cox, 21, of Durham, was arrested last Friday, while Darryl Bradford, 18, Semaj Maleek Bradley, 18, and Charles Winfor Daniels, 18, all of Durham, were arrested on Tuesday, police said.

Cox was convicted of an April 2017 armed robbery and placed on probation 10 days before Zheng was killed, according to state Department of Public Safety records. Bradford also was on probation for a September 2016 conviction for an assault that resulted in a serious injury, records show.

All five have been charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, attempted first-degree burglary and several counts of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle or residence. All are being held without bond in the Durham County jail.

Police provided no other details on the arrests or their investigation, except to note that Zheng's killing remains an open case.

The family's restaurant, China Wok on South Roxboro Street, had been closed for more than a month after Zheng's death, but Chan reopened it Wednesday. She said that, although it's still difficult for her to get through each day, she needs to provide for her two high school-age children.

A tearful Chan said Thursday that she's grateful for the additional arrests but noted they won't bring back her husband.

"She’s a strong woman. She can take a lot," customer Manuel Soto said of Chan.

"I am happy that she’s found the strength to reopen, and I am happy that the restaurant is still going to be here," customer Yoni McCoy said. "I hope that the community will continue to stand behind them so that they’ll stay open and feel that they are wanted in this neighborhood and they are appreciated."

"The atmosphere is going to be completely different because, normally when you walk in there, he’s greeting you," customer Cynethia Scott said of Zheng. "He would give you the clothes off his back – always nice. He cared – I’m going to put it that way – he cared about the less fortunate."

Anyone with information about Zheng's death is asked to call Durham police at 919-560-4440, extension 29284, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200.