Attack Victim on Life-Support Equipment : Northridge Restaurateur Shot in Head

A Northridge man who is part-owner of a chain of Chinese restaurants in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County was in extremely critical condition Wednesday after being shot late Tuesday at his Northridge restaurant.

George Fang, 41, of Tarzana was found on the floor of his office at the Mandarin Wok restaurant, shortly after closing time. He had been shot several times in the head at close range with a small-caliber handgun, Los Angeles Police Lt. Vern Higbee said.

Fang was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center, where he was on life-support equipment Wednesday, Higbee said.

No Suspects

There are no suspects, but detectives are checking for a possible connection to a 1981 incident in which two men attempted to extort several thousand dollars from Fang, Higbee said.

In that case, the two men, both transients, told Fang they would report him to the Internal Revenue Service for failure to pay taxes, Higbee said. Fang telephoned police after the men threatened to harm him, Higbee said.

Police conducted a stakeout and arrested the two men as they picked up the money. Higbee said detectives are checking on whether the convicted men are still in jail.

On Tuesday, Higbee said, Fang called a friend at about 10:20 p.m. and asked for a ride home from the restaurant at 9000 Tampa Ave., saying he had discovered after closing the restaurant that his van had a flat tire. When two friends arrived at the restaurant 20 minutes later, they found Fang on the floor of the office and took him to the hospital in their vehicle, Higbee said.

No Evidence of Robbery

There was no evidence of a robbery, Higbee said. Detectives are looking into the possibility that the killing was a professional execution attempt, he said.

Police are checking the van’s tire to determine whether Fang’s assailant might have deliberately punctured it, then ambushed Fang in his office when he went to call for help, Higbee said.

“We’re looking at everything. We’re looking at all his business associates, friends, relatives, disgruntled employees, everything we possibly can,” Higbee said.

A native of China, Fang is part-owner of Mandarin Wok restaurants in Northridge, Thousand Oaks and Ventura and a Seafood Wok restaurant in Woodland Hills, Higbee said.