Mingdong Chen was born in 1986 in Fujian Province, China. At the age of 16, he immigrated to the United States illegally, reportedly incurring a $70,000 debt to the "snakehead" gang that facilitated his entry. Chen worked in various Chinese take-out restaurants across the U.S., including in Chicago, Florida, and New York, to repay this debt.

Despite his efforts, Chen struggled to establish a stable life in America. He applied for asylum in 2007 using fabricated testimonials provided by a fraudulent Chinatown immigration agency, but his final appeal was denied in June 2013. Chen spoke little English and held a series of short-lived restaurant jobs, often being fired after brief periods.​

On October 26, 2013, Mingdong Chen committed a horrific act of violence in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. He murdered his cousin's wife, 37-year-old Qiao Zhen Li, and her four children: Linda Zhuo (9), Amy Zhuo (7), Kevin Zhuo (5), and William Zhuo (1). All five victims suffered fatal wounds to the neck inflicted with a meat cleaver.

Chen had been staying with the family for about a week prior to the murders. On the evening of the crime, Li became alarmed by Chen's behavior and attempted to contact her husband, who was at work. Unable to reach him, she called her mother-in-law in China, expressing concern about Chen's threats. The mother-in-law then contacted other relatives in Brooklyn, who rushed to the apartment.

Upon arrival, the relatives found Chen covered in blood. He reportedly stated, "I know I am done." The relatives restrained him and called 911. Police arrived to find the gruesome scene and took Chen into custody.

During police interrogation, Chen confessed to the killings, citing jealousy and resentment towards his cousin's family's success in America. He felt that everyone around him was doing better, which fueled his anger and led to the tragic event. ​

In 2014, a judge ruled Chen incompetent to stand trial due to signs of mental illness. However, in October 2015, Chen pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 125 years to life in prison, ensuring he would never be released.