Seattle’s Infamous Crime Scenes 1: The Wah Mee Casino

The Wah Mee was a speakeasy and casino that began operation in the early 1920s. As a ritzy, upper class refuge, the Wah Mee was patronized by affluent restaurant owners and business people in the mainly Chinese community. Situated on an alley between 7th and Maynard, the casino was home of some of the highest-stakes gambling in the Northwest.

In the first months of 1983, A 22-year-old Chinese Immigrant by the name of Kwan Fai “Willie” Mak had accrued an impressive gambling debt. Mak enlisted the help of his former high school classmate, Benjamin Ng and Wai-Chiu “Tony” Ng, to target the Wah Mee Casino as the prime solution to his gambling problems. Benjamin had a history of run-ins with the law, however, Tony Ng was a quiet and reserved 24-year-old who worked at his parents restaurant in North Seattle.

Just before midnight on February 18th, 1983, the three youths entered the club through the main doors, easily passing the front security detail, as they were all well known. The three then hog-tied all 14 occupants of the casino and robbed them of tens-of-thousands of dollars before shooting each one in the head. Since the attackers were well kown, the trio could leave none alive to implicate them in the robbery. Once they had taken the money and valuables, they fled the scene, leaving 14 victims for dead.

62-year-old Pai Kau dealer, Wai Chin, survived his gunshot wound and managed to free himself from the nylon cords before stumbling out of the club to find help. Within hours Seattle police had rounded up Willie Mak, and Ben Ng , while Tony was able to flee the country. In hiding for almost two years in the Chinatown district of Calgary, Tony was eventually extradited to the United States on the condition that he would not face the death penalty.

On February 28th, 1983, Benjamin Ng and Willie Mak were charged with 13 counts of aggravated first-degree murder. Tony was charged with the same 13 counts, in absentia, on March 30th.

Willie Mak initially received the death penalty, but his sentence was later reduced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Benjamin Ng also received a life sentence.
The club doors have been padlocked since 1983.