Queens Man Dubbed ‘Duck Sauce Killer’ Posts Bail In Deliveryman's Murder Case

A New York City man has posted bail after being accused of gunning down a Chinese food deliveryman following an alleged series of violent confrontations against the restaurant that employed the victim.

Glenn Hirsch, 51, will be confined to his Queens, New York home and tagged with an ankle monitor after his brother posted his $500,000 bail on Monday, according to WPIX 11 News. Hirsch — dubbed the “Duck Sauce Killer” by media outlets — was charged in connection with the April 30 murder of Zhiwen Yan, 45, who delivered Chinese food for the Great Wall restaurant on Queens Boulevard.

The moniker stems from a series of altercations Hirsch allegedly had with restaurant workers that began when Hirsch reportedly “became irate” over not getting enough duck sauce packets with an order.

“As alleged, a petty dispute over a take-out order became an obsessive point of contention for the defendant who began to stalk and harass employees at the restaurant for months,” said Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz. “The tragic end result was the murder of a hard-working employee, who left behind a devastated family and a grieving community.”

Officials say that Yan’s shooting was the final event in a months-long, one-sided conflict Glenn Hirsch had instigated with the Great Wall restaurant. It allegedly began on Nov. 30, 2021, when Hirsch reportedly ordered food from the establishment and requested extra packets of duck sauce. Despite the Great Wall staff catering to his request, Hirsch allegedly wasn’t happy with the volume of duck sauce packets included with his order.

“The defendant became irate, nonetheless, and argued with workers at the eatery,” according to the D.A.’s Office. “The defendant then insisted he get a refund because he wanted to return the food.”

When employees wouldn’t take Hirsch’s food back — which they later said was because of COVID-19 restrictions — Hirsch called the police, which did not force the restaurant to return his money. According to the D.A.’s Office, Hirsch “stormed out of the restaurant” and “routinely threatened and harassed” the owner and his employees in the following months.

Yan — the man Hirsch would later be charged with killing — reportedly discovered the defendant using a knife to vandalize an employee’s vehicle on Dec. 16, 2021. When confronted, Hirsch — wearing a black surgical mask — allegedly said, “I have a gun,” while threatening other Great Wall employees. Hirsch was also accused of saying something to the effect of, “Be careful; this is the last time I’m going to tell you.”

Employees followed Hirsch back to his vehicle and removed his mask before taking pictures of his face and license plate, according to the D.A.’s office, but police reportedly didn't intervene — and then trouble didn’t stop there.

Hirsch allegedly then approached a Great Wall employee as he shoveled snow near the restaurant shortly before 10:00 p.m on Jan 28. Officials say Hirsch pointed a black firearm at the man and threatened him.

“How’s your car? Remember me?” Hirsch allegedly asked the worker. “I will kill your entire family.”

The employee ran into the restaurant and called the police; they later learned that another employee's car tires had been slashed.

There's no evidence that Hirsch was charged in the incident.

Surveillance video finally allegedly captured Hirsch repeatedly driving by the Great Wall restaurant after dropping his wife at work on April 30 — passing the restaurant seven times between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., according to the D.A.’s office.

At around 9:30 p.m., Hirsch allegedly began tailing Yan as the deliveryman drove his scooter from the restaurant to deliver food to an unrelated Forest Hills residence.

Following the successful delivery, Hirsch allegedly continued to follow Yan until the victim stopped at a red light at the corner of 67th Drive and 108th street.

“At that point, the defendant approached the victim on foot,” according to the D.A.’s Office. “Mr. Yan recognized Hirsch and started to back away on the scooter.”

Hirsch allegedly fired a single shot that “ripped into Mr. Yan’s chest.” The victim died on the scene.

Following the shooting, Hirsch was allegedly seen “running back” to his vehicle before driving to his wife’s apartment in Briarwood, Queens, according to the D.A.’s Office. (Hirsch and his wife, Dorothy Hirsch, 62, lived in separate homes, according to police records obtained by the New York Post.)

Family members spoke with CBS News reporters about the moment they heard of Yan's senseless murder. 

"They told me, 'Your husband died,'" said Kun Ying Zhao. "I told them they were lying. My heart broke into pieces."

Relatives said Yan, a father of three, had worked for 14 years with the Great Wall restaurant and had recently opened a laundromat to supplement his income. 

"At first we all thought he had been robbed, but to find out he was murdered for no reason at all on the street," said nephew Cheng Long Huang. "I can't understand."

A grand jury indicted Hirsch for Yan’s murder on June 1, and a warrant for his arrest was issued. The following day, he was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Kenneth C. Holder on the 10-count indictment, which included charges of second-degree murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, menacing, and stalking.

Dorothy Hirsch was also charged with eight counts of criminal possession of a weapon following a June 3 search of her home, per the New York Post.

After Hirsch's June arrest, a high-ranking police official told the New York Post that a search of the man's home showed “his whole fridge was filled with duck sauce [packets].” The source said “it was weird” and referred to Hirsch as a “hoarder” of various condiments.

Great Wall employees stated they were “living in fear,” after Hirsch's release on bail, expressing concerns that Hirsch might be plotting revenge, per WPIX. As part of the conditions of Hirsch’s bail, however, he is not permitted to go near the restaurant.

Hirsch’s defense attorney claimed his client was “an honorable man” and that the real killer was still out there.

If convicted, Hirsch faces anywhere from 29 years to life in prison.