Reputed Gang Member Arraigned in Slaying : Liquor Store Owner Took a Risk and Died for It

When local convenience stores began to give Byung Jin Kim’s liquor store in Hawthorne some tough competition, he decided to add a check-cashing service to boost business.

But having lots of cash around the store was dangerous, so he carried a handgun. His best friend, Won K. Whang, remembers that while watching a cowboy shoot-out on television, Kim drew the gun from his side and said: “The faster one wins and the slower one loses.”

Last week, after withdrawing $80,000 from a Lawndale bank for the weekend’s check-cashing, Kim was confronted by a man with a .357 magnum revolver.

Kim never got a chance to draw his gun.

Investigators say that Kim--an immigrant who had worked hard since leaving Korea 22 years ago, rising from dishwasher to successful businessman to budding property developer--was killed by a Los Angeles man out on parole for a 1983 manslaughter conviction.

At his arraignment Tuesday in Torrance Municipal Court, Omar (Chico) Dent III, 25, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery, attempted robbery and kidnapping for robbery. He could be sentenced to death if convicted of murder and the accompanying special allegations.

Dent, a reputed gang member who has an extensive criminal record, was arrested Saturday at a friend’s house in South-Central Los Angeles, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said. He is being held without bail pending a preliminary hearing Oct. 7.

Anonymous tipsters and eyewitnesses led to Dent’s quick apprehension, detectives said.

A report written by a Sheriff’s Department investigator, filed in court along with the charges, says that Dent confessed to the robbery and murder in a tape-recorded interview, saying: “I did it alone.” Investigators, however, said they believe Dent had accomplices.

The investigator’s report gives this account:

Dent was waiting in the parking lot when Kim left California 1st Bank at 15120 Hawthorne Blvd. and got into his van. He walked up to the driver’s door and tried to pull it open, but the door was locked and Kim appeared to be reaching for something with his right hand. Dent fired two or three shots through the window, unlocked the door, pushed Kim aside and got into the driver’s seat.

Investigators later found what they believe was Kim’s revolver beneath the front passenger seat, covered with blood and glass. No money has been recovered.

The report quotes Dent as saying that he sped several blocks to a dead-end street where he abandoned the van. He tried to flee but was confronted by August Cardino of Hawthorne, who had followed the fleeing van.

The report states that Dent told investigators that he shot Cardino in the shoulder, then hid in an apartment house parking lot until dark before riding a bus to his home in Los Angeles.

Deputies said witnesses identified Dent as the gunman from photographs and corroborated most of his story. However, the witnesses said Dent left the abandoned van in a black El Camino with at least one accomplice.

Cardino, 41, a former New Jersey police officer, said in an interview from his hospital bed that he did not see Kim being shot but followed the van from the bank lot because he thought it was being stolen.

“I sped to catch up with him, but I guess I caught up a little too fast,” Cardino said. “I figured I’d help out, but it kind of backfired on me.”

Cardino was released Tuesday from Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Verdugo said investigators believe that Dent knew Kim would be carrying a large amount of cash.

“It became pretty obvious from the outset, due to the high amount taken and the manner in which it was taken, that the victim . . . may have been surveilled or that information was provided to the robbers,” Verdugo said in an interview.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Martin, the prosecutor in the case, agreed and added that detectives are still investigating the theory that the robbery may have been a conspiracy involving several other persons.

“Dent is playing the hero and is taking it on himself,” Martin said in an interview. “That is the gang code.”

Two reputed street gang members were arrested late Friday in connection with the crime after they were implicated by an anonymous tipster. They were released Wednesday but are still under investigation, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman said.

Dent has been in and out of state prison several times and was on parole from a 1983 voluntary manslaughter conviction when he was arrested, court records show.

Dent was charged with murder for shooting Roberto Martinez at a hamburger stand in South-Central Los Angeles, said a source in the district attorney’s office. He eventually pleaded guilty to the lesser manslaughter charge, records show, although authorities who handled the case were not available to give details. Dent served 21 months in state prison before being paroled in July, 1985, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Dent was sent back to prison three times for violating parole by using cocaine, failing to take drug tests and challenging a peace officer. He served another year and a half on the parole violations. He was freed for the fourth time on April 29.

Don Kim, the victim’s wife of 12 years, shook her head when the suspect’s name was mentioned. “He should have been in prison,” she said.

Don Kim closed the liquor store Friday morning but returned Saturday to find flowers, cards and signs on the front door. One sign, written in white spray paint on a black wooden plank read: “We Love You Mr. Kim.”

The widow said she will continue to run the business. “I can’t take a vacation,” she said while wiping tears from her eyes. In the 17 years that Kim ran the store, she said, “He never took a vacation, so his wife can’t either.”

This week, customers and grieving friends dropped in to give Don Kim hugs and condolences. “He will be missed by the whole neighborhood,” said Wilma Van, a regular customer who came to offer support. “Everybody loved him.”

Kim had three children, James, 26, Lilly, 24, and Richard, 18, all from a former marriage, Don Kim said. Kim’s ex-wife and the rest of his relatives are still in Korea, she said.

Friends Warned Kim

Friends and family said it was customary for Kim to withdraw a hefty amount of cash from the bank every Friday.

“I warned him,” said a friend who owns a local liquor store. “I told him to use an armored car if he was going to take out that much money. It only costs $40. But he said he didn’t want to spend that much money.”

The friend, who would not give his name, said that like Kim, many liquor store operators cash checks in order to make some extra money and attract customers.

“But he cashed big checks,” he said. “I only cash small ones, like maybe $10.”

Several friends said Kim knew the risk he was taking in holding large amounts of cash but believed the increased business was worth the risk.

“Owning a liquor store makes good money, but it is dangerous.” said Wilhelm Schimko, 57, a longtime friend of Kim. “He knew it was dangerous.”

Friends said Kim went to the races occasionally but dedicated most of his time to the liquor store.

“He was here practically around the clock,” Schimko said. “Sometimes he would sleep in his van outside the store because kids would steal things and that would upset him.”

Don Kim said her husband was having a mini-mall built on the store lot, which would include two or three other stores. Kim planned to retire and do some traveling after completing the expansion.

“He wanted to go all over the world,” Don Kim said. “He said he wanted to see Africa. I don’t know why, he just said that. He worked hard and he just wanted to enjoy life.”

Kim came to the United States from Korea in 1966 to escape the military rule of Gen. Park Chung Hee who during his 18 years in power limited freedom of speech and press and jailed many of his political opponents.

Kim, then a German language teacher, “left because he wanted freedom, just like everyone else, he wanted freedom,” said Won K. Whang, 59, a close friend of the family. “He hated the dictatorship.”

Early Jobs in L.A.

For the next five years, Kim worked in Los Angeles “washing dishes, sweeping floors, whatever he could find,” said Don Kim. After a few years he finally saved enough money to open a restaurant in Koreatown. The restaurant soon failed.

In 1971, Kim bought Mel and Leo’s Liquor Store at 14524 Hawthorne Blvd. For the first few years his was the only liquor store in the area and business was strong. But then other convenience stores began to open in his neighborhood and Kim felt the competition.

“Stores like 7-Eleven, the Boys market, and Safeway made it very hard for him,” said Whang. “So he started cashing checks.”

Schimko said he is not surprised Kim finally met up with a robber, considering the cash Kim kept on hand.

“I told him to get out of the business,” Schimko said. “I warned him (about the danger) about a thousand times.”

Check-Cashing Halted

This week customers still came to the store to cash checks, but were politely turned away. “We don’t cash any more checks,” Don Kim said with a smile. “It’s too dangerous.”

With the help of friends and her three stepchildren, Don Kim said she is going to keep the store open and continue with the mini-mall plans.

But even the support of friends and family could not keep the tears away this week, and Don Kim politely excused herself several times while she left the store to get more tissues.

But she soon returned. “I am going to try to keep the business going,” she said. “I have to live.”