Second man arrested in alleged abduction of Chinese student in Markham

FILE: “ARMED KIDNAPPING – We need your help to locate 22yr-old Wanzhen LU, kidnapped by 3 masked men, one armed with a taser from an underground parking garage at 15 Water Walk Dr, Markham.” (Photo: YRP/Twitter)

A second man involved in the alleged abduction of a Chinese student in Markham, Ont., has been arrested, police said Wednesday as authorities continued to search for two other suspects in the case.

York Regional Police said they conducted a search of a home in Brampton, Ont., on Tuesday and arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with the alleged kidnapping of Wanzhen Lu last month.

Const. Andy Pattenden said the arrested man’s name and the charges against him will be released once he is formally charged, which is expected to take place later Wednesday at a court in Newmarket, Ont.

“To the two remaining suspects, we want them to seek legal counsel and turn themselves in because it’s only a matter of time before we get them,” he said.

Police have said 22-year-old Lu, who is studying at a Toronto school, was walking with a friend after parking his car in the underground parking garage of his condominium around 6 p.m. on March 23.

They said security video shows three men jump out of a black, wheelchair accessible minivan while the driver remained behind the wheel.

The three men, all wearing jackets with their hoods wrapped tight to their faces, allegedly grabbed Lu while one man shocked him repeatedly with a stun gun, then forced him into the van, which sped off.

The latest arrest comes after another suspect, 37-year-old Abdullahi Adan of Toronto, turned himself in to police after a nationwide warrant was issued for his arrest.

Adan faces four charges including kidnapping, forcible confinement, assault with a weapon and assault.

Lu’s disappearance prompted a massive manhunt by York Regional Police. Lu’s family, distraught at the news, flew in from China during the search.

A day after he vanished, a tip from the public helped locate the van that was seen in the security videos of the incident.

About 72 hours later, a scared Lu showed up at a home some 150 kilometres away in Gravenhurst, Ont., asking for help. Police have theorized that the suspects may have dropped him off in the area earlier in the evening.

Lu was treated at hospital with minor injuries and reunited with his family.

Police have since said a ransom demand was made in the case, but didn’t say who it was made to, or if it was paid.