If convicted, he could face up to 57 years in prison, and additional charges may be added based on the investigation’s outcome.
The King County Prosecutor’s Office has not made a public statement regarding whether the shooting is being treated as a hate crime.
The suspect’s defense argued that Goosby had mental health issues and had previously experienced harassment by strangers, which contributed to his mental problems.
According to the Washington Examiner, Goosby is a convicted felon in Illinois with a criminal history that includes drug charges, weapons charges, and theft.
The county medical examiner’s office reported that Mrs. Kwon suffered four gunshot wounds to the head, lungs, and other areas. Her husband, Sung-hyun Kwon(37), who was also in the car, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm.
Mr. and Mrs. Kwon got married in 2015 and opened a Japanese restaurant called Aburiya Bento House in 2018. Mr. Kwon is deeply saddened by the loss of his wife, who was pregnant with their daughter just weeks before their first son’s third birthday.
In response to the incident, the Korean American community has established a fundraising page (https://gofund.me/6954e160) on GoFundMe to support the survivors, Sung-hyun Kwon and their 3-year-old son.
On Saturday, June 17, there will be a rally to mourn the loss of two innocent lives and advocate for safety for all.
Rally participants will gather at 10:45 am at the location where the shooting occurred, 4th and Lenora. The moment of silence will commence at 11 am, followed by a march to Aburiya Bento House from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
A friend of Mr. Kwon, Yoo Shin Cho, expressed, “Eina Kwon was always cheerful and smiling, so everyone around her loved her. She was happy to make a customized cake for their son’s birthday. Now that Sung-hyun has to raise his 3-year-old son alone, we want to help him.”
Cho added, “I understand that both sets of parents are currently unable to come to the U.S. due to circumstances. I hope the Korean community can support Sung-hyun through this.”
Korean American organizations in the Seattle area are also donating money to support the Kwon family. “The chamber is planning to meet with Sung-hyun Kwon soon to deliver a $1,000 condolence donation,” said Kay, the former director of the Seattle Korean American Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing the support from the Korean American community.
The couple’s Japanese restaurant in Belltown was temporarily closed, but local residents and customers continued to leave flowers. Consul General Eunji Seo of the Korean Consulate General in Seattle also visited the restaurant to pay her respects to the victims.
The Seattle Police Department issued a statement on Friday, acknowledging that no words can ease the pain but expressing their commitment to making the community safe.
Meanwhile, the Seattle community is outraged by the incident. “Anyone can deal drugs on these streets, and the city has done nothing to stop it, which has led to this tragedy,” said Belltown Neighborhood Council President Tom Graff, urging the city council to take action.
Pastor David Parker of Cornerstone Church also highlighted the absence of police and expressed concern about the increasing crime rate.
BY JUNHAN PARK, YEOL JANG [park.junhan@koreadaily.com, jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
