Police, Family Looking for Answers in Teen’s Slaying : Violence: Suspects are in gang but victim wasn’t, investigators say. Relatives today will bury 17-year-old Cypress High student, who ‘was at the wrong place at the wrong time.’

Robed in a long, black dress, Ok Jin sat stoically at the dining room table Friday as her family prepared for today’s funeral for her 17-year-old son, Robert.

The Cypress High School football player was gunned down in his Honda early Thursday by two suspected gang members, investigators say. Police believe that Jin, who will be buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Whittier this morning, was a victim of “senseless” gang activity.

“Robert Jin happened to be a guy who was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” Cypress Police Lt. John T. Schaefer said.

A 14-year-old boy, who also attends Cypress High School, was arrested Thursday in Jin’s slaying. The suspect’s name was not released because of his age.

Authorities have not identified the second assailant, who is described as a Latino in his late teens to early 20s, with medium build and medium height and a shaved head. He was last seen wearing gray or dark baggy clothing, Schaefer said.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear, Schaefer said, adding, “It wasn’t because he went to Cypress High. And may not even be because of his car.”

Police said they are investigating a number of possible motives for the shooting, which range from an attempted car theft to a street gang ritual in which a potential member has to commit a violent act to gain acceptance.

“It looks like Jin didn’t know the guys,” Schaefer said.

While police spent Friday serving a search warrant and seeking murder charges against the juvenile suspect, relatives and friends gathered at an evening vigil for Jin, an 11th-grader who committed his time to sports and his church.

“Robert was the biggest sweetheart,” said Jeena Lim, a member of Jin’s youth group at the Miracle Land Korean Baptist Church in Cypress. “He would help out at car washes or bake sales,” to help raise funds for the church, she said. “I just couldn’t believe this happened to him.”

Other teens also were in disbelief.

“He’s the nicest guy,” said James Lee, Jin’s best friend from Cypress High. “I can’t really believe that he’s not here anymore. It’s unrealistic.”

Several witnesses told police that they had seen two young men starting an argument with Jin after he drove into the parking lot of his neighborhood. The fight continued outside of his car and Jin somehow sat back inside where he was fatally shot, police said.

“We’re not sure if the guys punched him and that knocked him into the car, or he voluntarily sat back in the car,” Schaefer said.

Around 12:20 a.m. Thursday, police found Jin’s body inside the Honda. Lee, who visited the crime scene after school Thursday, said he was overcome with emotions when he saw the blood-stained pavement.

“It’s so unfair,” Lee said in a soft tone punctuated with frustration. “There was no reason for anyone to take Robbie away like that. He had to go because someone was acting crazy. They didn’t have to shoot him. I don’t understand why they had to be so cruel.”

Jin’s friend Brian Jung, also from Cypress High, spent Friday afternoon helping other teen-agers set up chairs and tables for the evening’s memorial service. Jung said he saw Jin just minutes before the shooting.

Jung was studying with Jin’s older brother, Mike, and another friend when Robert stopped by just after 11 p.m., he said.

“He came to pick up his brother but Mike wanted to study more so he told him to go home first,” Jung said. “So he left and that was the last time I saw his smile.”

The Jin brothers, the only children in their family, were best friends who shared a bedroom, similar hobbies and mutual friends. The two attended church every Sunday, and sometimes on Fridays.

At school, Robert Jin would join Cross Connection, a youth group that occasionally met when ministers were invited to speak. His summers were spent at youth group retreats and training for his school’s football team, the Centurions, Jung said.

In his spare time, he sketched pictures of cars or portraits, including one of his mother, and hung them on his bedroom wall.

“He was only 17 and he had so much hope,” said Jung, 18. “It’s terrible.”