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Painful farewells continue for friends, families of Friday's shooting victims
Thursday, May 04, 2000 By Robert Dvorchak, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
His mother dabbed the grief from her eyes with a handkerchief as soon as she got off the flight from China. His father, wearing the blank mask of shock, was supported by his son's best friend, who wore a white carnation -- the symbol of mourning -- and a black armband.
Family and friends of Ji-Ye "Jerry" Sun gathered yesterday to begin the painful process of bidding farewell to the man they loved, the manager of a Chinese restaurant who was one of five people killed in last week's racist and hate-filled rampage.
The parents, fatigued from a 7,300-mile, 20-hour flight to Pittsburgh, kept their eyes to the floor and did not speak as they made their way to Sun's home in Churchill, where a grieving daughter-in-law awaited them. They were escorted by an Allegheny County policeman and an FBI agent.
But Sun's best friend Mo An, who saw Sun just hours before his life was snuffed out by a .357-caliber Magnum, recalled a pleasant, helpful, peace-loving man with a passion for living and music.
"He loved this country," a somber An said. "He came here to pursue freedom, peace and prosperity. He will always be in my thoughts. I still can't believed this happened."
An had given Sun, 34, a farewell hug Friday outside the Ya Fei Chinese Cuisine restaurant, where Sun was the manager. Sun was supposed to drive him to the airport for his flight to China, but he had to work that afternoon. He never finished the shift.
For complete Post-Gazette coverage, click here.
Sun was ringing up money given him by delivery man Thao "Tony" Pham, 27, when a man in a brown sports coat walked in and killed them both in full view of customers and employees. Richard Baumhammers, 34, a Mt. Lebanon attorney with a history of psychiatric problems, has been charged with the murders.
"We gave each other one last hug. We said, 'Take care,' " said An, a 41-year-old businessman.
Only when he landed in Beijing later that night did an airline official inform him a friend had been shot. He learned later it was Jerry -- "It drove me crazy trying to find out" -- and returned Tuesday to begin a much more tearful farewell.
"I would do anything to be able to turn back time and bring him back," An said at the airport. "We had dreams that we were going to travel the world."
Jonathan and Wei Yee, who own the Chinatown Inn Downtown where Sun was once a waiter, also went to the airport to greet Sun's parents -- Yun-cheng Jiang, a teacher, and Jun Sun, who serves in the Chinese military.
"He loved his wife and his two stepchildren. His deepest regret will be that he won't be able to provide for his parents," said Jonathan Yee, brother of the "ER" actress Ming-Na. "He loved life, bore no hatred in his heart to anyone or anything. He loved Pittsburgh so much he always called it his second home. Wherever he traveled, he always came back to Pittsburgh. He loved every beauty, every bridge, in the city. He always thought the people were so friendly."
Wei Yee, her 4-year-old son in tow, recalled a pleasant man who will be sorely missed.
"He was such a character that if you met him just one time you would never forget him. He was always so pleasant," Wei Yee said. "Now he can't feel any more fresh air, he can't feel any of the things he loved in life. We just wonder why him?"
Kathy Yee, the owner of Ya Fei, wept as she helped escort Sun's mother to baggage claim. A native of Taiwan, Yee came to America when she was 18. Her name in Chinese is Ya Fei, which means elegant princess.
She was home sick with a cold on Friday and was not at the restaurant when the gunman entered.
"Otherwise, it would have been me, I think. I've been thinking about it every day, all the time. Why is this happening? Why now? It's happening so fast I can't even think straight," she said.
Ya Fei will remain closed until Saturday. It opened briefly for about 30 minutes on Monday before it closed again.
"Everybody was just too sad and too depressed and too shaky, including me," Lee said.
A candlelight vigil will be held at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Ya Fei in Robinson Town Centre for Sun and Pham, but all of the victims will be recalled and people all ethnic and religious affiliations are invited to attend.
Pictures of the slain men will be displayed, and a Buddhist monk will chant. Ribbons of white will be dispensed with the candles.
Tomorrow was chosen because, according to Asian beliefs, the spirits return on the seventh day to the spot where they died.
Chinese restaurants around the city will be closed tomorrow. The Greater Pittsburgh Chinese Restaurant and Business Association agreed to the closing to show their respect for the two men and all the victims of the shooting.
The association also supports tomorrow's hour-long rally at 4 p.m. in Market Square, Downtown. The united community response is sponsored by various civil rights groups, including the NAACP.
"It's very, very important for all of us to show our respect and let the whole community know, please, not again, not ever again," said Kathy Yee.
A native of Hanzhou, China, Sun majored in drums and was a high honor student when he graduated from Shanghai Music University. He was also on scholarship at the New York Music Institute for 18 months. He was a former employee and manager of the Sushi House in Squirrel Hill, before moving to Ya Fei two months ago.
His funeral on Saturday will be a traditional Buddhist ceremony.
"The family wants justice," said Lee Fang of Murrysville, a reporter for the Chinese daily World Journal. "They thought this is the land of freedom, and people shouldn't be living under this kind of fear when you don't know if someone has a gun pointed at you."
When Mo An boarded the flight this week to come back to Pittsburgh, his Chinese friends cautioned him to be wary.
"They think it's dangerous in America. They can't believe these kinds of things happen. They tell me to be careful," An said.
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