The Irvine man who shot a kidnapping victim in Chino Hills had a “working relationship” with the victim, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said on Friday, July 31.
Officials did not elaborate on that relationship.
“That information is not being released as it is part of the ongoing investigation,” said Gloria Orejel, a spokesperson for the agency.
A possible motive had not been disclosed, either.
The Sheriff’s Department on Friday, July 31 identified the victim as Shukur Aikebaer, 60, a resident of Monteverde Drive.
Zhengfeng Bo, 67, and his brother Jianquan Bo, 66, went to Aikebaer’s home around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the agency said.
The electricity to the home was interrupted, and Aikebaer went outside to inspect the electrical panel.
Both men shot Aikebaer and loaded him into the trunk of their car, officials said.
Shortly afterward, sheriff’s deputies pursued the car for about a mile to Wandering Ridge Drive, where the Nissan sedan pulled over. Jianquan Bo surrendered and Zhengfeng Bo, the driver, got out of the car, opened the trunk and shot Aikebaer, authorities say.
Deputies then shot Zhengfeng Bo to death.
On Thursday, July 30 deputies served a search warrant at a home on Crossover near Benchmark the Bos shared in Irvine and found evidence, officials said. The neighborhood has modern single-family houses near the Great Park.
Jianquan Bo was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of murder and kidnapping. He was being held without the possibility of bail.
The brothers were not related to the victim, Orejel said.
A person who answered the door at Aikebaer’s home on Friday declined to comment.
But Adam Nijiati, 40, a software engineer and friend of Aikebaer’s family, told The New York Times the victim had a wife and three children and wasn’t wealthy. Aikebaer had flipped homes and at one point opened a fast-food restaurant in San Diego.
“He is very modest, like the kindest guy you could ever meet in your lifetime,” Nijiati said from the grieving family’s home. “He’s not that rich to be honest. I don’t know why would somebody just try to kidnap him. …
“It is just unbelievable,” Nijiati said.
On Friday, ABC 7 reported that Zhengfeng Bo and Aikebaer were in a business relationship that soured, resulting in a pair of lawsuits, including one that was filed this week.
Bo’s attorney told the station that the controversy surrounded a $20 million apartment complex in Pasadena. Bo sued the former manager, alleging that the manager prevented Bo from taking control of the complex.
Bo’s attorney said Aikebaer was a “middleman” in the business relationship.