Jury convicts second man in 2022 killing of massage store owner

A jury on Friday convicted Juan Carlos Hernandez of first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of an Albuquerque business owner who was fatally shot while fighting with two teenage attackers.

Prosecutors told jurors that Hernandez, 21, and a co-defendant struck Sihui Fang, 45, with at least 10 gunshots after entering her business, Wonderful Massage, in Northeast Albuquerque.

The 2nd Judicial District Court jury also found Hernandez guilty of kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy after deliberating a single day on Friday.

The first-degree murder conviction requires Hernandez to serve at least 30 years before he becomes eligible for parole. State District Judge Brett Loveless has not scheduled a sentencing hearing.

Hernandez’s attorney, Roberta Yurcic, told jurors that Fang “escalated” the encounter by arming herself and shooting at her two attackers.

The teenagers were exiting the building when Fang emerged from a room with a firearm and began shooting at them, Yurcic said this week.

Prosecutors told jurors that Fang fought desperately after Hernandez entered the business under the pretext of getting a massage, then pointed a gun at her head.

In June, a jury convicted Hernandez’s co-defendant, Jorge Rivera-Ramirez, 21, of first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in Fang’s killing. Loveless also presided in that trial. No sentencing hearing is scheduled in his case.

Fang, a native of an impoverished village in China, operated massage businesses in California and New Mexico and obtained U.S. citizenship.

She was killed amid a string of robberies at Asian massage businesses that had many business owners in fear.

Prosecutor Natalie Lyon told jurors that the violent encounter began when Hernandez knocked on the front door of the business and asked for a massage before the two entered a room.

Prosecutors showed jurors security video from the business that captured a portion of the struggle between Fang and her attackers.

At one point, Fang unlocked the door and attempted to escape, but encountered Rivera-Ramirez standing outside the business, who pushed her back inside, Lyon said.

Fang desperately grabbed onto the door frame, but the two attackers pulled her back into the business, Lyon said.

Hernandez pushed Fang to the floor, then grabbed her hair and dragged her down the hallway, she said.