Kidnappers friend reveals possible motive for deadly trunk execution of real estate colleague that shook LA

A friend of the man accused of carrying out a gruesome car-trunk execution said the suspect had raised concerns about a struggling $20 million real estate investment years before the killing.Tony Lu said Zhengfeng Bo, 67, sought out his help about two years before the deadly attack after raising concerns over a Pasadena apartment complex investment that was no longer generating positive cash flow.“Basically, there’s no net positive cash flow for him or his business,” Lu told NBC Los Angeles.Lu added that Zhengfeng, a real estate investor from China, became his friend after the pair were neighbors in Irvine.“Both our families hung out at his place,” Lu said, adding that he was stunned by the allegations against his former neighbor.Lu said Zhengfeng also expressed concerns about the victim, Shukur Aikebaer, who was allegedly kidnapped by Zhengfeng before the cold-blooded slaying.Lu told NBC News that the suspect “was involved in some of his investment.”“He knew he try to use him to make some money.”Despite those concerns, Lu said Zhengfeng introduced him to Aikebaer several times over the years and always described him as a “nice family man and businessman.”Zhengfeng and the owners of the Pasadena apartment complex have been involved in two separate lawsuits — including one filed as recently as last Monday — though the nature of the complaints remains unclear.Court records show Zhengfeng was the CEO of Panshi Inc., while Aikebaer served as the commercial real estate firm’s chief financial officer and secretary.Panshi, which owned a 70% stake in the Pasadena apartment complex, has also been locked in a legal battle with Panoptic Development over control of the property after voting in March to remove the company as the building’s manager.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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