Um… ok so you can’t protect what you mean anymore I guess… Min Kim, a Spanaway convenience store owner has been sentenced to 8 years in prison for the shooting death of Jakeel Mason, whom was shoplifting at Kim’s store.
While Min Kim stated that he accepts responsibility for what he did and apologized for his actions, I can’t help but think that essentially it’s as if the system is saying it’s totally OK for someone to shoplift. I don’t want to see any life taken, and I have no doubt Min Kim will have nightmares about the whole thing but… 8 years?
As written for Komo News by Keith Eldridge:
In March 2016, Mason was a shoplifting suspect at Kim’s Pacific Quick Shop and was trying to flee from the store, when he was shot in the back.
The fatal shooting came one month after Kim’s wife, Seul Lim, was wounded by an armed would-be robber when she and the suspect exchanged gunfire. Those robbery suspects were caught.
Then a month later, Kim was the one dealing with people trying to steal from his store. He told KOMO News back then it was a struggle for his gun and he shot the suspect in self defense.
Credit: Komo News“I was down and he was on top of me and he was trying to reach my gun,” Min Kim said in a March 26, 2016 interview.
But, the prosecutor said the video showed a suspect who was unarmed and hands up. After a brief scuffle, the suspect tried to get away, that’s when Kim fired shots.
Credit: Komo News“I did not have the right to take Mr. Mason’s life or anyone else’s life,” Min Kim said in court on Friday. “I feel terrible that I did so and will have to live with that for the rest of my life.”
His wife said the earlier assault on her had been weighing heavily on him.
Spanaway convenience store owner who shot & killed thief sentenced to 8 years in prison