L.A. County offers reward for information on sushi chef’s slaying

Jason Wei lived for his family and his restaurant.

The owner of the Osaka Ya Sushi restaurant in Arcadia only took four days off a year, putting painstaking care into an eatery that was a source of great pride for the 42-year-old Chinese immigrant.

But on Nov. 25, 2007, Wei was fatally shot by an unidentified gunman as he worked behind the sushi bar at the restaurant. His shattered family -- wife Susan, a young son and daughter -- moved back to their homeland in fear for their safety.

“It was their world,” said Arcadia police Det. Dan Crowther. “They were trying to make a better life for themselves and for their family. Where do you go from there?”

On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Arcadia police officials offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the robbery and homicide.

Video by the Arcadia Police Department shows the gunman entering through the kitchen, where he confronted two workers. It also shows him taking money from the restaurant’s cash register as well as the cashier’s wallet.

Crowther said it was unclear why the gunman, who wore black and was not clearly identified by witnesses, shot Wei with a small-caliber handgun, given that everyone in the restaurant had cooperated with his demands.

“There was no resistance,” Crowther said. “There was no reason to fire his weapon.”

It was a tragic end for a man who was living the American dream, Crowther said. Wei scraped together enough money to buy the restaurant in 2002 with his wife and for the next 5 1/2 years did everything to make it a success. He worked tirelessly, spending 12 to 15 hours a day, every day, at the business he ran with his wife.

At the news conference, officials displayed a picture of Wei behind the sushi bar flashing a broad smile. “That picture is him,” Crowther said. “Very happy, very jovial.”

At the time of his death, a customer described him on the L.A. Times’ Homicide Report blog: “Jason Wei was a wonderful person who had exceptional interpersonal skills. He brightened the lives of his customers with his wonderful smile and he will be terribly missed. A tragedy such as this shouldn’t happen to such a kind person.”

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Arcadia police at (626) 574-5160 or (800) 78-CRIME.

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andrew.blankstein @latimes.com