Irvine real-estate executive killed business partner after kidnapping in Chino Hills

Zhengfeng Bo, 67, who was chief executive officer of the Irvine-based commercial real-estate firm Pansi Inc., kidnapped his business associate Shukur Aikebaer, 60, from Aikebaer’s Chino Hills home on Wednesday evening. After forcing Aikebaer into the trunk of a silver Nissan Altima, Bo led deputies on a high-speed pursuit before shooting Aikebaer in the trunk and being fatally shot by police.

Bo and Aikebaer were colleagues at Pansi, where Aikebaer served as chief financial officer and secretary. The two were involved in a dispute over a $20 million Pasadena apartment complex, with Bo’s lawyer Michael Chen saying the pair had previously maintained a calm, non-adversarial relationship. Chen added that he was “shocked” by the incident and could not explain what might have triggered Bo’s actions.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Bo’s brother, Jianquan Bo, was in the passenger seat and complied with officers after the chase. Jianquan was later arrested on suspicion of murder and kidnapping. The department said it attempted lifesaving measures on both men without success.

The dispute involved more than $2 million in loans that Bo, Pansi and another associate had extended to the developers of the apartment complex, and a separate lawsuit filed by Chen seeks to replace the property managers of The Madison Collection LLC, the development’s owner. Representatives for The Madison Collection could not be reached for comment.