Asian Bistro Chef Taken Down by Police at Gunpoint

A cook at a Maricopa Asian fusion restaurant was arrested at gunpoint on May 31, 2025, after allegedly threatening a coworker with a kitchen knife.

The Maricopa Police Department responded to a report of a fight at W & Z Asian Bistro on the John Wayne strip around 4:30 p.m. A 911 caller indicated that a man dressed in black was brandishing a knife at an employee.

Upon arrival, officers found 57-year-old Jun Lyu in the back of the restaurant, cooking. They took him into custody at gunpoint, utilizing a “language assistance line” to communicate.

Lyu explained to officers that a dispute over food had escalated with another employee, who began shouting profanities. He later admitted to pushing the coworker against a fridge and holding a knife.

The alleged victim stated Lyu grabbed him by the throat, pinned him against a wall, and made stabbing motions with the knife. He claimed Lyu said, “Believe it or not, I will kill you,” during the altercation. Lyu, however, denied making any threats.

Following the incident, Lyu was booked into the Pinal County jail on charges of aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. He now faces a potential sentence of two years in prison.