Police ID suspect in S.F. jewelry store killings

Crowds gather near the scene of Friday's double slaying at the San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart on Brannan Street. Crowds gather near the scene of Friday's double slaying at the San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart on Brannan Street. Photo: Katie Meek, The Chronicle Photo: Katie Meek, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Police ID suspect in S.F. jewelry store killings 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Robbery does not appear to be the motive in a brutal attack Friday in a busy San Francisco jewelry mart that killed two saleswomen and left the store's owner wounded, police said Saturday.

Police declined to say what they believe was behind the attacks.

On Saturday night, police identified Barry White, a 23-year-old Antioch resident, as the man who was arrested Friday and booked into county jail on two counts of murder and seven counts of attempted murder after he allegedly burst into the Victoga jewelry store, armed with a gun and a knife, police Officer Gordon Shyy said in a statement.

The victims were identified Saturday by the city medical examiner's office as Khin Min, 35, of San Francisco, and Lina Lim, 51, of Daly City, both of whom worked at the store.

White also is accused of opening fire on six officers who converged at the San Francisco Giftcenter & Jewelrymart at 888 Brannan St., where the attack sent terrorized shop owners and customers cowering.

White acted alone and does not appear to have been attempting to rob the store, Shyy said. White had a "business transaction" of some kind at least once at the jewelry store before Friday.

Officers responding to a report of shots fired at the multistory building first spotted White as he walked down Brannan Street, his clothes soaked in blood, Police Chief Greg Suhr said Friday. The suspect reportedly fired as many as six rounds at officers before he retreated into a nearby restaurant, Taqueria Dos Amigos.

The man had apparently run out of ammunition by the time he threw down his gun and surrendered, the chief said. The officers did not shoot during in the encounter because too many people were in the line of fire.

Officers then swept the shopping center searching for more suspects in what was initially thought to be a robbery.

Investigators found the two women dead at the store. One was shot, and the other was stabbed with a knife, Suhr said. Police recovered the apparent weapons at the scene.

The owner of the shop, Vic Hung, survived gunshot and stab wounds in the attack. Hung, 50, has been a dealer of gold chains and other merchandise at the basement store since 1985, according to public records, and has about five employees.

Fellow merchants said the two women who were killed were well liked, honest and dedicated workers.

"I had a customer right before the incident, she had been there (at Victoga) buying an earring from the women - she was devastated," said George Bilemjian, owner of a store in the exchange.

"We all of us in the building, we have known each other for the longest time," he said. "We're devastated."