More details are emerging surrounding the tragic murder of 67-year-old Sueng Chul Choi, an Upper East Side bodega worker. According to reports, the deli worker was at work when an armed customer suddenly entered into the building. The customer was wearing a hooded hazmat suit and immediately ordered a customer in the building to get on the ground.
It’s unclear whether he also asked Choi to get to the ground, either, but it is apparent that the culprit went behind the counter and pistol whipped Choi. He continued to hit Choi with the gun until it went off.
Nearby witnesses called 911, but Choi was fatally wounded after getting struck by a bullet in his head.
Sadly, Choi’s friends and family described the worker as depressed and estranged from his family. The 67-year-old had children, but he was divorced. His family reportedly lived over a thousand miles away from him. His ex-wife said she has not seen him for about four years. Choi had moved to Chicago from Seoul in 1978.
He did return to South Korea at some point but decided that life in the U.S. was better for him. Former customers described the former employee as “Kind of sad.” What’s more, he was extremely suspicious of his job and even considered it dangerous. Choi’s friends and family said that he had often commented on the dangers of working late-night hours at the deli.
When Armed Attacks Turn Fatal
If you ever have a thought to commit a crime, then you need to be very aware of the consequences of bringing a gun, knife, bat, or another type of potentially deadly weapon to the crime. For one thing, simply having a weapon with you while in the commission of a separate crime is a crime in and of itself.
That means no matter what you ultimately wind up getting charged with, you’ll likely face additional charges just for having a weapon with you. What’s more, your penalties will increase and the crime you’re charged with might get upgraded in severity, even if you never pull out the weapon.
Even worse, if the situation gets out of control and you use that weapon, you could accidentally (or intentionally) take the life of someone else. Since murder is the most serious crime you could potentially commit, the consequences will be steep.
If you’re facing charges, then it makes the most sense to consult with a defense attorney. Schedule a free case evaluation with our office now to discuss your situation in more detail.
