### Capture in the Investigation of Chinese Businessman and Partner’s Murder
**By Mara Yáñez, August 11, 2024**
Deyanira Michelle N. has been detained following the issuance of an arrest warrant for her alleged involvement in the murder of businessman Da Teng Chen and his associate Victor Manuel Pinedo. The incident occurred on May 23, 2023, in the parking lot of a Costco in the La Mesa district of Tijuana.
At approximately 3:38 PM, the central emergency services were alerted to gunfire targeting the occupants of a luxury vehicle in the store’s parking lot located on Vía Rápida Poniente. The victims were inside a black Mercedes Benz when a black Infinity approached. One of the attackers exited the vehicle and began shooting at the victims. Following the attack, the assailant fled in a gray Kia.
Da Teng Chen succumbed to a gunshot wound to the skull, while Victor Manuel Pinedo died from injuries to the chest caused by gunfire.
Michelle N. is the third suspect apprehended in connection to this case. Previously arrested were Ismael Alejandro N., also known as “El Mayo,” and Ricardo N., both charged with aggravated homicide. Michelle N. is believed to have driven the getaway car.
Ricardo N. was detained on August 21, 2023, and is alleged to have approached the driver’s side window of the Mercedes Benz, firing the shots that killed the victims. Ismael Alejandro N. was captured on August 22, 2023, by State Investigation Agency officers along the Tecate-Ensenada highway in the Nueva Hindú neighborhood.
The Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Life gathered evidence and testimonies that led to the arrest orders for the suspects. According to a press release from the State General Prosecutor’s Office (FGE), the attack was a direct hit on the businessman and his associate.
Records show that Chen was a partner in several businesses, including Confort Rents, C&L Invertmex, Tecnología Global Emprendedora CF, Compra tus boletos, ZHDI of America, Alimenticios CK, and Beimi, all based in Tijuana. He also had ties to the China King Buffet restaurant, where human remains were found in plastic bags inside a container in March 2023.
In December 2022, Chinese restaurant owners reported extortion by organized crime following the arson of three vehicles at the Mykasa establishment on the 26th of that month.
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### Secondary Article: Ongoing Investigations in Tijuana Businessman Murders
The investigation into the murders of Da Teng Chen and Victor Manuel Pinedo continues to reveal new information. Authorities are piecing together the events leading up to the evening of May 23, 2023, to understand the motives and connections between the suspects.
Security footage and eyewitness accounts identified Ricardo N. and Ismael Alejandro N. as key players in the attack. Both suspects have past criminal records, which are now being scrutinized for any links to the crime.
Neighbors in the Sonora neighborhood where Deyanira Michelle N. was arrested reported seeing unfamiliar vehicles and suspicious activities in the days leading up to her capture. Investigators are now looking into these sightings to determine whether they are related to the murder plot.
The motive behind the brutal attack is yet to be confirmed, but officials suspect that business rivalries, extortion, or other criminal enterprises could be possible reasons. Chen’s multiple business ventures and his known issues with organized crime, as indicated by the December 2022 restaurant incidents, might have played a role in the deadly confrontation.
Authorities are urging anyone with information relevant to the case to come forward as they strive to unravel the full scope of this violent act and bring all accountable parties to justice. The safety and wellbeing of business owners in Tijuana remain a top priority as many continue to work under the cloud of extortion threats from criminal organizations.
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