Martinez, California – A Walnut Creek man already facing double murder charges in the 2025 killings of his wife and mother-in-law now faces an additional homicide charge for a separate 2024 killing in Los Angeles County tied to the Walnut Creek case.
43-year-old Howard Wang and 33-year-old Demarques James Pearl of Los Angeles have been charged in the murder of Chengli Li, who was 41 at the time. Li, prior to his shooting death in San Gabriel, CA on June 8th, 2024, was the romantic partner of Howard Wang’s girlfriend, 45-year-old Yan Wang. Yan is also a defendant in the Walnut Creek murders.
Howard Wang and Demarques Pearl planned the murder of Li before travelling together from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County on June 7th. The following day, Li was shot and killed outside his apartment in San Gabriel.
The Los Angeles County murder of Li will be joined with the Walnut Creek double murders to be prosecuted in Contra Costa County. Both Wang and Pearl were scheduled to be arraigned today at the A.F. Bray Courthouse’s Annex in Martinez. However, defense attorneys asked the court to reschedule both arraignments on the charges. Pearl will be arraigned on April 1st and Wang on April 14th at 1:30 pm in Martinez.
- Case No. 01-26-01851| The People of the State of California v. Howard Wang
- Case No. 01-26-01850 | The People of the State of California v. Demarques James Pearl
Related
- 9/30/2025 – Oakland Woman Charged as Accessory After the Fact in Walnut Creek Double Murder
- 9/22/2025 – Walnut Creek Man Charged in Double Murder
