Man Held in Fatal Beating of Dentist

A dentist was found bludgeoned to death in his Torrance office and a fellow church member was arrested after leading police to the body, authorities said Thursday.

Samuel Chi, 40, of Torrance called police shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday and directed them to the dental office in the 3900 block of Pacific Coast Highway, said Lt. Wally Murker, commander of the Torrance detective department.

Inside the office, police found the body of Shinn-der Yu, 40, of Torrance, as well as a bloody short-handle ax, Murker said.

The motive for the murder was unclear. Police said the two men had met through church.

An autopsy was scheduled for today or Monday, Murker said.

Witnesses said Chi had paced up and down the parking lot in front of Yu’s office for two or three hours before using a pay phone, apparently to call police. Officers arrived a short time later and led Chi away in handcuffs. The suspect’s lower arms were covered with blood, said Ralph Alvarez, whose Burrito Burrito restaurant is in the same mini-mall as Yu’s dental office.

Chi was being held in the Torrance City Jail on suspicion of murder. He is scheduled to be arraigned today at South Bay Municipal Court, Murker said.

Anthony Hung, who identified himself as a family friend, said the events leading to Yu’s death were complex. Yu was a “very gentle, considerate person” who opened his office 18 months ago, Hung said.