Min Sik Kim Sentenced To 8 Years For Unjustified Killing Of Oxygen Thief

Spanaway, WA – Min Sik Kim, age 31, was working in his family’s convenience store on March 25, 2016, when he unjustifiably shot and killed an oxygen-thief who had previously been convicted of trying to kidnap a 6-year-old-girl.

Although Kim said that he “feared for his life”, and shot in self-defense, Pierce County Superior Court Judge John Hickman sentenced him to prison for eight years, according to Q13Fox.

The incident occurred at the Pacific Quick Shop located on Pacific Avenue. Kim, who is a clerk at the store, and one of its owners, went outside to tell a group of men who were loitering to leave. While he was outside, a suspect later identified as Jakeel Rashon Mason, 21, who was already inside the store, tried to steal cigarettes from behind the counter.

Kim came back inside the store, saw Mason trying to steal the cigarettes, pulled out his gun, grabbed Mason, and pulled him back into the store. A fight ensued between the two men, and Kim shot Mason in the back as he tried to flee. Mason was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kim told local KOMO News in a March 26, 2016 interview that he was down on the floor, with Mason on top of him, and that Mason was trying to get his gun. He said that he feared for his life. Prosecutors have said that surveillance video tells a different story, but the video hasn’t been publicly released. He was charged with second-degree murder.

History from a prior robbery may have played a role in Kim’s decision making.

Min Sik Kim’s wife Seul Lim was working as a clerk at the same store in February, 2015, when a different suspect came in, pointed a gun at her, and tried to rob her of cash. She pulled a gun, and a shootout occurred. She was shot during that incident, but has since recovered.

She told Judge Hickman on Friday that her being shot has weighed ‘heavy’ on her husband’s mind, that he “struggled in fear of losing me,” according to KOMONews.

Many of his customers have continued to support him, including Angela Spragg, who said, “He’s been robbed a few times now and I’m shocked that this is going on.” They believe prosecutors should have been lenient with Kim in light of what he’s been through. Another customer, Gail Meyer, said, “I think it’s a little over the top because of what happened to his wife and he’s just trying to defend his self.”

No one from Mason’s family was present in the courtroom on Friday. His name is no stranger to the criminal justice system.

On April 2, 2014, six-year-old Savanna Norman was almost abducted outside of her Parkland home by two suspects. Savanna yelled and kicked at the two suspects, and was able to escape. One of those suspects was Jakeel Rashon Mason, who was caught a short time later, and charged with unlawful imprisonment.

Several members of Kim’s family were in court on Friday, and were clearly upset and crying when Judge Hickman sentenced Kim to eight years. He has no criminal record, is married, and has a seven-year-old son.

Judge Hickman said on Friday that it was a tough situation but that Kim did not have the right to use deadly force.

Shooting a shoplifter who is running away is not a justifiable use of deadly force, but it leaves one to wonder why Mason was out just a couple of years after he tried to abduct a little girl.