Korean-American convenience store owner in his 70s severely assaulted by shoplifter

A 70-year-old Korean-American convenience store owner in Seattle Capitol Hill was assaulted and seriously injured by a shoplifter.

Neighbors and customers have started a fundraiser to help pay for his medical expenses on the GoFundMe page.

Charlie Kim, 70, was struck in the head with a beer bottle by a suspect on the sidewalk outside his convenience store, J’s Quick Stop, on September 12 when he stopped a man who was stealing beer from the store and fleeing, according to local media outlet KOMO News.

According to the victim’s son, Joon Kim, his father suffered severe injuries to his jaw, mouth, and eyes, the latter of which were so swollen that he was unable to see clearly.

“I rushed to the scene after receiving a call from my mother,” he said in a phone interview with the Korea Daily on September 17, explaining that ”shoplifting incidents often happen in stores, but this is the first time he was injured this badly.”

Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene and gave Kim emergency medical treatment before rushing her to the hospital. The Seattle Police Department is investigating the incident as a robbery.

Kim is now recovering at his home. “The swelling in his eye has gone down a lot, and his dizziness is getting better,” Joon Kim said of his father’s condition, ”but we’re not sure when he’ll be able to go back to the store.”

The Kim family has owned the convenience store in Seattle since 2007.

“My family works at the store almost every day, and we didn’t close even during the pandemic,” said the victim’s son, Kim. “I will be running the store until my father recovers,” he said.

Neighbors and customers were shocked by the news of Kim’s assault and immediately started raising funds to help.

Clinton Davis, Kim’s neighbor and owner of Cap Hill Fitness, set up a GoFundMe page to help Kim on behalf of Joon Kim. The fundraiser has now surpassed its goal of $20,000 and has raised about $29,700 as of 3 p.m. on September 18.

“It’s hard to hear that he was assaulted when he’s a good friend of yours,” Davis said.

“Mr. Kim reminds me of my dad, and I hope he heals completely and gets back,” said Lee Ngo, one of the donators of the fundraiser.

Police are currently searching for the suspect.

BY YOONJAE JUNG, HOONSIK WOO [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]