Sooi Chung, a longtime employee, said in a telephone interview that Mr. Yan had worked seven days a week to support his wife and three children, who ranged in age from 2 to 15 years. would help his wife, who works at a nearby laundromat.
Councilor Julie Won, who is Korean-American, said the death of Mr. Yan symbolizes the dangers faced by delivery drivers, many of whom are Asian-American. They have been the target of violent attacks during the coronavirus pandemic, and they have also failed public safety and labor systems that put their lives at risk as they try to earn a living, she said.
The Great Wall was closed on Sunday, but more than a dozen customers gathered outside and shared stories about Mr. Yan. Nearly a dozen bouquets were lined up in front of the restaurant in the afternoon, and some people left notes for his family on greeting cards.
Among those who came to pay their respects was Andres Villa, 45, a handyman in a Forest Hills building. He remembered Mr. Yan as a hard worker with a cheerful demeanor.
“He was always running around no matter what the weather was like,” said Mr. Villa. “Rain and snow, he was always working. He was always yelling at everyone, ‘Hello, my friend!’”
mr. Villa said he once hit a driver with Mr. Yan bumped in, which was full of delivery orders. Mr. Yan didn’t get angry, he said. “He just said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be right back,’ and he went to deliver the food,” said Mr. Villa.
The murder of Mr. Yan was second so far this year in the 112th district, which includes Forest Hills and Rego Park, an area that has not seen a homicide since 2016, according to police statistics.