A judge has sentenced a man to 65 years in prison for the attempted murder of three of his former co-workers at a Brooklyn, NY, seafood warehouse.

Jingzhi Li was convicted of three counts of second-degree attempted murder and three counts of first-degree assault in connection with the workplace violence on Jan. 4, 2008. Li had worked at the warehouse until he quit in November 2007.

On the day of the attacks, Li made arrangements to meet with the owner, David Li, and the manager, Lilly Ren, to buy seafood.

Jingzhi Li asked David Li to enter the freezer where the seafood was. Jingzhi struck David in the head and hands several times with a hammer, knocking him unconscious and leaving him in the freezer.

Li then found Ren and struck her in the face with the hammer. Ren feigned death so Li would stop attacking her.

The only other employee in the warehouse at the time, Linda Cheong, heard Ren’s screams, ran to an office and closed the door, but Li got to the door before she could lock it. He hit Cheong in the head and hands several times, also leaving her unconscious.

All three victims suffered severe injuries.

Li was picked up a short time later with blood all over his clothes.

Tags: attacked with hammer, Jingzhi Li, workplace violence