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New: Ex-Letter Carrier Tries to Run Down Postal Supervisor in Albany

By Bay City News
Wednesday May 05, 2010 - 10:20:00 PM

A former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service has been accused of trying to kill his former supervisor by ramming the victim with a car over the weekend. 

Tian Yu Lu, a 62-year-old San Francisco man, has been charged with premeditated attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly ramming his car into his 53-year-old former boss in the 900 block of Pierce Street in Albany shortly after 6 a.m. on Saturday, according to Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Marty Brown. 

The victim had fired Lu for poor performance last October and he was attacked as he was walking to his car to drive to work, Albany police Sgt. Dave Bettencourt said.  

Lu and the victim, whose name isn't being released, both worked at a post office in San Francisco, according to Bettencourt. He said Lu had worked for the Postal Service for 15 years before he was fired.  

Bettencourt said Lu had been waiting outside the victim's home and when he saw the victim he accelerated his car, pinning the victim between his car and the victim's car.  

However, the victim was able to slip away and run to safety on the far side of his car, according to Bettencourt.  

Lu fled the scene but officers found him near Golden Gate Fields a short time later and arrested him, Bettencourt said.  

The former letter carrier was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in addition to attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, but prosecutors chose not to charge him with driving under the influence. Brown said Lu could face life in prison if he's convicted of premeditated attempted murder.  

Bettencourt said the victim suffered a broken arm and cuts and bruises but was released from the hospital the same day as the incident. He is still recovering at home and hasn't returned to work yet, Bettencourt said.  

Lu, who is being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, was arraigned earlier this week and is scheduled to return to Alameda County Superior Court on Friday to finalize his legal representation and possibly enter a plea. 

Jail records indicate that Lu also formerly worked for the San Francisco Unified School District. 

Albany police say that anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information about the case should call their investigations division at (510) 528-5786.