Driver’s Relatives Blame Police for Death

An attorney for the family of Hong Il Kim, who was shot to death last week by police after a 30-minute chase that was broadcast on television, lashed out at officers Friday for using “unnecessary force.”

Hong Il Kim

At a news conference here, attorney Angela E. Oh questioned whether Kim’s civil rights were violated and challenged police officers’ actions.

Oh also expressed concern about the release by police of Kim’s criminal history, which she said contained incorrect information, and of Kim’s immigration status.

“Within 24 hours, we were told about [Kim’s] immigration history,” Oh said. “We were told about his contacts with law enforcement. . . . All this has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not it was necessary to kill him.”

Orange Police Sgt. Tom Jordan declined comment. “We won’t say anything, pending completion of the district attorney’s office investigation,” he said.

Kim, 27, was shot Feb. 14 after police in Westminster spotted him making an improper turn about 11:30 a.m. Kim refused to pull over, and a 30-minute chase ensued, eventually involving more than a dozen police officers from Westminster, Orange and the California Highway Patrol.

With guns drawn and TV cameras rolling, four officers approached Kim’s vehicle in Orange after it was boxed in. Officers opened fire as Kim gunned the accelerator.

Kim’s family conceded he erred by disobeying the officers’ orders to pull over. But they said Kim, who was visiting his family from his native South Korea, might have panicked or failed to understand what the officers were saying.

“How come he didn’t stop? That I don’t know,” Kim’s sister, Hong Yon Chai, 41, of Buena Park, said before Friday’s news conference. “He’s the only one who knows, but they didn’t give him a chance.”

Kim’s family said he only was convicted of several misdemeanor drug violations, contrary to information released by police. None of the convictions threatened Kim’s immigration status, they said.

Several representatives of Korean American organizations attended the news conference and held signs with slogans in English and Korean that read, “Stop justifying the ruthless killing. Start apologizing,” and “Arrest the killers.”