Case # 15HF0776
Date: July 21, 2015
MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED ON SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER CHARGES FOR LYING IN WAIT AND HITTING VICTIM WITH CAR BEFORE STABBING VICTIM TO DEATH
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is expected to be arraigned today on special circumstances murder charges for lying in wait and hitting the victim with his car and then stabbing the victim to death. Hongli Sun 38, Irvine, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder by lying in wait, one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon, and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury and the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Sun is being held without bail and is expected to be arraigned today, July 21, 2015, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
At approximately 1:20 p.m. on July 18, 2015, Sun is accused of being parked in his Mercedes sport utility vehicle (SUV) in a parking lot on Barranca Parkway in Irvine. The defendant is accused of waiting for 54-year-old Xuan Liu with the intent to murder him. Sun is accused of observing Liu walking in the parking lot and intentionally driving his SUV toward him and hitting the victim with the vehicle.
As Liu attempted to stand up, Sun is accused of getting out of his SUV and approaching the victim with a knife. Sun is accused of stabbing Liu.
Witnesses at the scene called 911, and the Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the Orange County Fire Authority immediately responded. The suspect was subsequently located in the parking lot and arrested.
Liu was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of his injuries.
IPD investigated this case.
Assistant Head of Court Howard Gundy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.