Trial begins in 2022 killing of Wonderful Massage owner

Prosecutors described for jurors Monday a violent scene in which Albuquerque business owner Sihui Fang fought desperately with two teenage attackers in the moments before she was killed by multiple gunshots.

Attorneys made opening statements Monday in the trial of Juan Carlos Hernandez, 21, who prosecutors allege shot and killed 45-year-old Fang inside her business, Wonderful Massage, in Northeast Albuquerque.

Hernandez, 21, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, multiple counts of armed robbery and other charges in Fang’s Jan. 24, 2022, shooting death.

The 2nd Judicial District Court trial is scheduled through Friday before Judge Brett Loveless.

Prosecutor Natalie Lyon told jurors expert witnesses will testify that Fang was struck by at least 10 gunshots and that three firearms were involved.

“Sihui Fang never stopped fighting for her life,” Lyon said, adding Fang managed to arm herself during the lengthy encounter.

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 in opening statements.

“I’m not judging Ms. Fang’s decision to arm herself at that point and shoot the firearm,” Yurcic said. “We know that decision escalated the situation, bravely so, because Ms. Fang armed herself with that firearm and goes after these young men.”

The pair took cover in a room. “It was the only way to escape the gunfire at that point,” she said.

Fang was a native of an impoverished village in China who obtained U.S. citizenship. She was killed amid a string of robberies at Asian massage businesses that had many business owners in fear.

In June, a 2nd Judicial District Court 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.

The first-degree murder conviction requires that Rivera-Ramirez will serve at least 30 years in prison before he becomes eligible for parole. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

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.

Lyon told jurors that during the trial, they will view security video showing that moments later, the two exited the room with Hernandez holding a gun to Fang’s head.

“In this video, you can see that Sihui Fang is trying to get the defendant to leave,” Lyon said. “He points the firearm at her head. She swats it away.”

The two had a verbal exchange. “She is trying to get him to leave,” Lyon said. “She is pointing at the door. He pushes her around. She swats the gun away. He points it at her head. This goes on for a long time.”

At one point, Fang unlocked the door and attempted to escape, but Hernandez’s co-defendant, Jorge Rivera-Ramirez, was standing outside the business and 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.

“You see Juan Carlos Hernandez push her and she falls to the ground,” Lyon said. Hernandez then grabbed her by the hair and pulled her down the hallway, she said.

The surveillance video goes black because the youths unplugged the system, she said.