A remorseful convenience store owner who shot and killed a robbery suspect in the back has been sentenced to 8 years in prison by a judge in Tacoma, Washington, reports Q13 Fox .

The incident took place in 2016 just a month after the owner’s wife was shot and injured during a robbery attempt at the same store.

“I’m here to take responsibility for my actions in taking Mason’s life,” said Min Sik Kim, 31, during sentencing. “I accept the consequences. I did not have the right to take his life.”

Kim also asked for permission to write a personal letter of apology to the family of the suspected robber,Jakeel Rashon Mason, 21. Suspects are often told to stay clear of a victim’s family, but Pierce County Superior Court Judge John Hickman said that would be ok.

The judge recognized that the shooting of Kim’s wife weighed heavily in Kim’s action, but said the shooting death was still not justified.

According to KOMO, Kim in 2016 told the media he shot Mason in self defense after a struggle. But the prosecution said Mason was unarmed and that Mason was trying to leave the store when he was shot in the back.

Kim’s family was in the courtroom for the sentencing and broke out in tears after sheriff deputies placed handcuffs on Kim and was lead away.

“My husband struggled in fear of losing me.” Seul Lim said at the sentencing.

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