Press Release

MAN INDICTED FOR KILLING GREAT WALL RESTAURANT DELIVERYMAN WHO WAS SHOT DOWN ON SCOOTER IN APRIL IN FOREST HILLS

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced today that Glenn Hirsch, 51, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury on murder, stalking and other charges in the death of a 45-year-old Chinese food restaurant delivery worker. The victim was gunned down on his scooter, just moments after dropping off an order in Forest Hills on April 30, 2022.

District Attorney Katz said, “As alleged, a petty dispute over a take-out order became an obsessive point of contention for the defendant who began to stalk and harass employees at the restaurant for months. The tragic end result was the murder of a hard-working employee, who left behind a devastated family and a grieving community. Gun violence is never the answer and will not be tolerated in Queens County. Following a thorough investigation by my Office and the NYPD, the defendant has been apprehended and will now face justice in our Courts.”

Hirsch, of 141st Street in Briarwood, Queens, was indicted on the charges on June 1, 2022, at which time an indictment arrest warrant was issued at the request of this office. He was arraigned today before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder on a 10-count indictment. The 50-year-old defendant is charged with murder in the second degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, criminal mischief, menacing and stalking. Justice Holder ordered the defendant to return to Court on June 7, 2022. Hirsch faces between 29 2/3 to 44 years-to-life in prison, if convicted.

According to the charges, at approximately 9:30 p.m., on November 30, 2021, the defendant placed an order for Chinese food at the Great Wall Chinese Restaurant on Queens Boulevard. Hirsch asked for extra duck sauce packets, which he was given. The defendant became irate, nonetheless, and argued with workers at the eatery. The defendant then insisted he get a refund because he wanted to return the food. But the worker refused to take the order back and Hirsch then called police.

A short time later, said the DA, the police arrived at the restaurant and the worker explained that due to Covid the restaurant could not accept food back. The defendant stormed out of the restaurant and in the months that followed, Hirsch allegedly routinely threatened and harassed the restaurant’s personnel.

According to the charges, on December 16, 2021, the victim, Zhiwen Yan, walked outside the restaurant and saw the defendant allegedly using a knife to damage a restaurant worker’s car that was parked outside the eatery. The defendant, who was wearing a black surgical mask, allegedly threatened the workers, including the deliveryman, Yan. The defendant allegedly said in sum and substance, ‘I have a gun’ and added ‘be careful, this is the last time I’m going to tell you.’ Then, the defendant walked to his vehicle. Three restaurant workers followed and confronted Hirsch. One of them pulled down the black mask and the others took pictures of Hirsch’s face with their cell phones, as well as the license plate on Hirsch’s gray Lexus SUV.

The DA continued, on January 28, 2022, following a snowfall one of the workers was outside shoveling snow just before 10 p.m. when the defendant showed up and approached. Hirsch allegedly pointed a black firearm at the man and threatened him, saying in sum and substance, ‘How’s your car? Remember me? I will kill your entire family.’ The man then rushed back inside the restaurant to call the police. When he went back outside, the defendant was gone but the tires on a worker’s car were slashed.

On April 30, 2022, according to the charges, the defendant was observed on multiple surveillance video footage allegedly driving by the Great Wall restaurant after dropping his wife at work. Between approximately 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Hirsch passed by the Queens Boulevard restaurant seven times. Just before 9:30 p.m., Mr. Yan left the restaurant on his scooter to make a delivery. The defendant allegedly driving in the vicinity managed to get behind the scooter and followed him to an address on 108th Street.

The DA said Mr. Yan dropped off the food order and returned to the scooter and rode away. He then stopped at a red light at 67th Drive and 108th Street. At that point, the defendant approached the victim on foot. Mr. Yan recognized Hirsch and started to back away on the scooter. But in that moment the defendant allegedly fired a single shot. The bullet ripped into Mr. Yan’s chest; he fell to the ground and died as a result of the single gunshot wound.

Continuing, according to the charges, the defendant is allegedly seen running back to his SUV and then driving away from the scene to his wife’s apartment, also in Briarwood. Hirsch parked his car and entered the building. After the indictment arrest warrant was issued by this office, Court-authorized search warrants were executed at the defendant’s wife’s home. Police allegedly recovered eight firearms from a closet, which also contained items belonging to the defendant.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Ross, Deputy Bureau Chief of the DA’s Homicide Bureau, is prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Xhulia Derhemi, also of the Homicide Bureau, under the supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Daniel Saunders.

**Criminal complaints and indictments are accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.