An estimated 500 people gathered at Arcadia High School Monday night to mourn and remember two brothers found dead in their own home last week.
The bodies of 16-year-old William and 15-year-old Anthony Lin were found just after 12:45 p.m. Friday at their home in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue. Investigators believe they were beaten to death.
On Monday night, stunned classmates and friends remembered the brothers as fun-loving and funny.
Their principal described the boys as two bright lights taken far too soon.
The boys’ uncle, a Chinese national, agreed Monday to surrender to U.S. authorities, who were seeking his arrest on suspicion of killing his two nephews.
Deyun Shi, 44, was arrested by Hong Kong police after arriving on a flight from Los Angeles on Saturday night.
Earlier, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department had issued a call for his capture, after the two teenage boys were found dead in a house in Arcadia on Friday.
The same notice said Shi was also wanted for questioning over the attempted murder of his wife the day before.
Appearing in court on Monday, Shi declined legal representation, and sought bail, which was refused.
Through an interpreter, he told the court that “the details of the allegations against me are not true.”
Shi denied he’d been trying to evade U.S. authorities, and said he had been trying to get to Shenzhen in southern China, where he has a business.
“I would like to give a clear accounting to the U.S. government. Therefore, I would like to return as soon as possible,” Shi said.
“We are beyond saddened to learn of the death of the Lin brothers, William and Anthony, who attended Arcadia High School,” a statement from the Arcadia Unified School District read.
“While this tragedy did not happen on campus, it will undoubtedly have an enormous impact throughout all our schools,” the statement said.
Students returning to school this week would be offered extra counseling, it added.
