Following a Brooklyn truck rampage that killed Yijie Ye, a Chinese immigrant, New York lawmakers are hoping to help bring his mother from China to the US to attend the funeral.
Authorities said Yeh, a single father of three, was among nine people who were struck by a U-Haul truck in a “violent rampage” in Brooklyn on February 13. He was the only person who died. His relative Mike Chen told The Associated Press that Yeh, a delivery worker, was at work when the vehicle struck him.
Authorities have identified the U-Haul driver as 62-year-old Vang Sor. While a motive has not yet been determined, Chief of Detectives James Essig told reporters last week that Sor was suffering an apparent mental health crisis. The suspect made his first court appearance last week. His attorney, Andrew Freedman, did not enter a plea but asked for Sor to be kept under suicide watch in mental health protected custody until his next court date on March 16.
According to a news release from Meng’s office, Democratic Reps. Grace Meng and Dan Goldman and Republican Rep. Nicole Maliotakis, of New York, said Tuesday that they would help Shui Ying Xiang, Ye’s mother, obtain a visa.
“My heart goes out to the loved ones of Yiji Ye and the horrific and heinous way in which she was killed,” Meng said in a statement. “His family is devastated, and we will help facilitate this visa for him and assist him in any way we can. We hope that all of New Yorkers will keep him and all those affected by this terrible event in their thoughts and prayers.”
The lawmakers said they would coordinate with the US embassy in Guangzhou, China, to bring Jiang to the US so she could help with funeral arrangements and spend time with the victim’s children. Jiang would need to provide a nonimmigrant visa to travel from Fuzhou City to New York City.
Ye, 44, left China nearly two decades ago, according to the news release. Chen told The Associated Press that in addition to delivering food, they sometimes collect recycling for a living.
“They had huge plans for their kids, like going to college and being able to support themselves and make great contributions to society. But right now, everything is shattered,” Chen told the outlet.
Goldman said in the release that he and his fellow lawmakers would do “whatever they can” to ensure Jiang could attend his son’s funeral.
“As a father, my heart goes out to Shuying Jiang and all the loved ones in New York who were victims of this attack,” Goldman said.
