Carlsbad Businesswoman Shot to Death by Robber

The owner of a dry-cleaning shop in Carlsbad was shot to death Wednesday after balking at a robber’s demand for money, authorities said.

Gi Hae Ja, 51, of Carlsbad was struck in the chest during the shooting at Plaza South Cleaners in the 2600 block of El Camino Real. She was taken to Tri-City Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:23 p.m., Carlsbad Police Lt. Greg Fried said.

“I don’t think she could figure out what to do,” Gi’s husband, Gi Jun-yong, said Wednesday night. “There was a man with a gun. He looked like he was going to use it. After seeing that, I don’t think she could have heard a word he said.”

After the shooting, the gunman fled the shopping center in a blue compact car driven by a woman, Fried said. Police said it was unclear whether the gunman escaped with money.

Gi Jun-yong, who was not present during the shooting, said at least three employees were in the cleaning area behind the counter but out of earshot. Gi said the workers were not aware of any problems until they heard a gunshot.

Customers were in the shop at the time of the attempted heist, according to Gi. It was not clear whether they saw the shooting, but no one else was injured.

The Gis moved to Carlsbad and opened the business about a year ago. They emigrated from South Korea in 1978, arriving first in Michigan, where they also owned and ran a laundry.

Although the Gis immigrated to the United States more than a decade ago, the husband said his wife’s English was halting. Investigators were trying to determine if she completely understood the gunman’s threats.

Police are seeking a man described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, black and 33 to 42 years old. He was last seen in a mid-size, blue four-door car with California plates.