IDs Released In Deadly Stabbing Inside Old Lyme Big Y: UPDATE

OLD LYME, CT — State police have identified the victims in a double stabbing assault that occurred Sunday afternoon inside an Old Lyme Big Y grocery store.

Two people were involved, one deceased and one with serious injury, said Connecticut State Police spokeswoman Kelly Grant. Grant said one of the victims was transported by LifeStar helicopter to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Police have identified the victims as Jing-Song Gao, 34, (deceased) of Mathuen, Massachusetts, and Tan Lin, 40, of Old Lyme. Gao has been identified as an employee of the store who operated the sushi counter, according to a release.

Police will continue to investigate to determine the reason for the assault and which victim was the aggressor. The incident will be the first murder in Old Lyme since 2009 if the victim's death is deemed murder.

Originally, state police said the attack occurred inside Big Y and then corrected that to the say the Big Y shopping plaza. State police have now confirmed that the attack occurred inside the grocery store and that the store was closed while detectives investigated.

The scene was secured at 3:15 p.m., and the assault was reported at 2:12 p.m.

Gao was transported to Shoreline Medical Center in Westbrook where he was later pronounced dead. Lin was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital via Life Star where he is being treated for serious injuries.

Troopers interviewed witnesses and were quickly able to determine there was no further threat to the store patrons, public or community. It was also learned that this was not a random act, as the two victims were familiar with one another.

Get Patch's previous coverage from Sunday.

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