By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch A Spanaway store owner's "frustrations" turned deadly when he shot and killed a suspected thief, according to Pierce County authorities. Min Sik Kim, 30, has been charged with murder in the second degree for shooting a shoplifter, 21-year-old Jakeel Rashon Mason, in the back as he tried to run from Kim's store. Kim was arrested by county Pierce County Sheriff Department deputies March 28, was held in the county jail on $200,000 bail, and was arraigned March 29 in Superior Court. He's scheduled to face a jury trial in May. Authorities said Kim's wife was working as a clerk in their store in February when it was robbed by a different person. She and the robber fired guns at each other. One of the robber's shots struck Kim's wife, but she survived. In the second incident a month later, Kim went too far, said Prosecuting Atttorney Mark Lindquist. "The defendant's frustrations are understandable, but his actions were not lawful,GÇ¥ Lindquist said. "Shop owners cannot legally shoot unarmed shoplifters attempting to flee.GÇ¥ Prosecutors gave this account of the incident that resulted in the fatal shooting: On March 25, a group of men were loitering outside Kim's store, and Kim went outside to tell them to leave. Surveillance video footage from inside the store shows that while Kim was outside, Mason tried to steal cigarettes from behind the counter. Kim caught Mason and held him at gunpoint with a pistol he pulled from the waistband of his pants. Mason put his hands up and Kim backed him up against a store shelf. Kim then put his gun back in his waistband and punched Mason in the face. They struggled briefly as Mason tried to get away from Kim. When Kim was on the ground, Mason ran toward the store's door, picking up a pack of cigarettes as he attempted to leave. Kim stood up, pulled out his pistol again and fired at Mason, striking him twice in the back. Mason collapsed in the doorway. Kim picked up the stolen cigarettes and called 9-1-1.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment