Learning on your iPhone that, say, the trial begins Monday for Stephenson Choi Kim, a 31-year-old San Gabriel man and Asian street-gang member accused of killing one and trying to kill six others?
There's an App for that.
]
The Orange County district attorney's office (OCDA) announced today the launch of a free iPhone application that's billed as the
first in the nation developed and
utilized by a prosecutorial agency.
“I am excited for law enforcement to have yet another tool to provide
the public and media with critical and accurate information regarding
public safety, significant cases and the criminal-justice system,” says District Attorney Tony Rackauckas in a media statement.
“Law enforcement must keep up
with the globalization of information,” he continues. “This iPhone application will
make information directly available to the consumer and the people of
Orange County that we serve.”
The app, which was developed by Amanda Lean of the OCDA Public
Affairs Unit, features immediate access to the OCDA website,
press releases and media advisories as of Jan. 1, 2011; high-profile
case information; upcoming events; Facebook and Twitter accounts; office
locations; and contact information.
It's available
for free download in the iTunes Store or by visiting http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ocda/id414170988?mt=8.
The OCDA statement also included the following:
HOW TO STAY INFORMED
In addition to the iPhone application, the OCDA provides the public and media with multiple options to stay informed.
Facebook: “Friend” District Attorney Rackauckas on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OCDATony
Twitter: Follow the OCDA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OCDATony
Website: Visit our website at www.orangecountyda.com
Press Releases: Visit the “E-Notifier Sign-up” on the OCDA homepage to have press releases sent directly to your e-mail
Fax: If you would like to receive/continue receiving press releases and
media advisories by fax, please fill in the following and return this
form by fax to the OCDA Public Affairs Unit at (714) 347-8689:
Name/Media Outlet: _____________________________
Preferred Fax Number: _____________________________
The OCDA statement on the Kim case follows on the next page . . .
[
January 28, 2011
ASIAN CRIMINAL STREET GANG MEMBER FACES DEATH PENALTY TRIAL FOR
MURDERING ONE AND ATTEMPTING TO MURDER SIX OTHERS IN UNPROVOKED CAFÉ
SHOOTING
SANTA ANA – An Asian criminal street gang member faces a death penalty
trial tomorrow for murdering one woman and attempting to murder six
others in an unprovoked shooting at a Cypress café. Stephenson Choi Kim,
31, San Gabriel, is charged with one felony count of murder, six felony
counts of attempted murder, one felony count of street terrorism, and
sentencing enhancements for murder for a criminal street gang purpose,
the personal discharge of a firearm, discharge of a firearm by a gang
member causing death, vicarious discharge of a firearm by a gang member
causing great bodily injury, and criminal street gang activity. The
Orange County District Attorney's Office is seeking the death penalty in
this case. Opening statements are expected to begin Monday, Jan. 31,
2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-44, Central Justice Center, Santa
Ana.
Six co-defendants face the same charges as Stephenson Kim in this case
and a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility
of parole if convicted. The co-defendants are: Robin Kim, 28, Cerritos;
Christopher Ung, 27, Lakewood; Wilson Sun, 28, Lakewood; Chakris
Kanchanapoomi, 27, Long Beach; Ashil Manek Nair, 26, Cerritos; and Glenn
Lamuel Watkins, 24, Lakewood.
On March 14, 2004, Stephenson Kim is accused of drinking at a home with
several members of his Asian criminal street gang including Robin Kim,
Nair, Sun, Watkins, Kanchanapoomi, and Ung. The defendants are accused
of leaving the home in several cars armed with firearms with the
intention of finding rival gang members to fight.
The defendants are accused of driving to 5th Wave Café in Cypress to
look for rival gang members. Inside the café, 22-year-old Venus Hyun was
enjoying dinner with six friends. Nair and Watkins are accused of
entering the café and approaching the victims to ask if any were gang
members. Victim Richard Woodhead explained that he had previously been
connected to a criminal street gang, but said that he “didn't bang
anymore” and the two gangs were not enemies. Nair and Watkins are
accused of leaving the café and telling Stephenson Kim about the
conversation they had inside.
Stephenson Kim is accused of taking a firearm and entering the crowded
café. The other defendants are accused of waiting outside as Robin Kim
drove to the rear entrance to wait for Stephenson Kim. Stephenson Kim is
accused of approaching the table where Hyun was sitting with her
friends and beginning to shoot at the seven people at the table.
Stephenson Kim is accused of murdering Hyun by shooting her in the back.
The bullet entered her body, bounced off her shoulder blade, and
ultimately lodged in her brain. Hyun collapsed and died a few hours
later at the hospital.
Stephenson Kim is accused of also shooting Jean Lee in the back. The
bullet went through the victim's body and exited her chest. Stephenson
Kim is accused of shooting Michael Paek in the hand and John Chung in
the arm. When Ronald Woodhead attempted to wrestle the firearm from the
defendant, Stephenson Kim is accused of shooting the victim in the
stomach. These four victims survived the shootings. Stephenson Kim is
accused of missing victims Richard Woodhead and Kung Yoo as he shot at
the group of friends.
Stephenson Kim is accused of fleeing out the back door to the car where
Robin Kim was waiting. All of the defendants are accused of returning to
the original home to congratulate Stephenson Kim for the shooting.
Eventual anonymous tips led to the arrest of all of the defendants by
the Cypress Police Department.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Cameron Talley of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.