In the early hours of November 4, 1931, 40-year old Sam Wong, the owner of the Quong Wo Chong Kee teahouse, 228 Pacific Avenue, was gunned down, the victim of an apparent gambling turf-war in Chinatown.

Shortly after midnight, Wong left the Nanking Restaurant, in the Coronation Building, 238 King Street, with friends Toy Mon and Lee Shu. After turning west onto Alexander Avenue the trio noticed they were being followed by two men. Between Princess and Stanley Streets the two men fired five shots in their direction and then fled.