Police: Karaoke killer caught

The arrest was the result of a collaborative effort between San Mateo, San Francisco and Oakland police departments and the FBI, San Mateo police Lt. Barbara Hammerman said at a Saturday news conference. San Mateo police issued an arrest warrant July 15 and distributed Lu's photo to police departments in the area.

Lu was wanted for the brazen early morning shooting of San Francisco resident Wei Cheng Ma, 30, on July 8.

It started when two parties were emerging from their respective karaoke rooms just as the Aqua Sound Karaoke Club at 273 S. Railroad Ave. was getting ready to close at 2 a.m. As the guests were leaving their respective rooms, police say a verbal altercation quickly turned physical.

The brawl spilled onto the street on Third Avenue by South Railroad Road and Lu allegedly fired the gun that killed Ma, police said.

Police were frequently called out to Aqua before it changed ownership last year. Since then, police said there have been just a few calls, mostly concerning intoxicated guests. The club has been temporarily shut down.

The Police Department put a temporary ban on private karaoke rooms earlier this year because the rooms were said to be dens to illegal activities like prostitution, gambling and drug dealing. Excessive drinking was also considered a problem.

A new ordinance will require there be no locks on doors to private entertainment rooms and that such rooms have windows so the activities inside can be monitored. Clubs do not have to comply with the ordinance until September.