A Korean-American security guard was brutally stabbed multiple times by a robber at Hannam Chain, a Korean supermarket in Los Angeles Koreatown.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers were called to a stabbing near Olympic Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue at around 2:30 a.m. on April 24.
Police found a 69-year-old Korean-American male security guard with stab wounds at the scene and transported him to the hospital. The stabbing victim reportedly called 911 for help himself.
The suspects, described as two Hispanic males in their teens to 20s, reportedly tried to break into the supermarket and brandished a knife when the security guard stopped them.
“There was a conflict with the security guard telling the suspects, ‘You can’t be here, get out,’” said LAPD Public Information Officer Tony Im. “The suspects walked out of the mall, came back in with a knife, and attacked the security guard,” he said.
“The security guard ran away, but they chased him and stabbed him in the abdomen and leg with the knife. The suspects also stole his wallet,” Im added.
The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but is reportedly in stable condition. The suspects have not yet been arrested.
The security guard was identified as working for the security company CM Security. “The victim was a Korean-American named ‘Ronald’, and he was attacked in the early morning during his shift, which was until 6:30 a.m.,” said another security guard at CM Security, who requested anonymity, adding, “This is the first time that such a thing has happened (at the mall).”
“This mall is guarded 24 hours a day, so there are night guards on duty even in the early morning,” said Mercet Pariah, a security guard at PCB Bank in the same mall as Hannam Chain, who works for Miju Security.
CM Security, based in Cerritos, is a longtime Korean-American security company with at least 20 years of experience.
However, when the Korea Daily checked with the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), it found that CM Security’s “Private Patrol Operator” license is currently “suspended no qualifier.”
A security industry insider, who requested anonymity, said, “It’s a long-standing security company in Koreatown, but there have often been problems, such as employee salary delays.”
Meanwhile, Hannam Chain did not comment on the incident. A CM Security manager told the Korea Daily, “We were very shocked to hear about the incident. We received a call from the victim’s family this morning saying that he is in stable condition,” adding, “We are experiencing an increase in crime in the town, and it was not like this before.”
“We usually have security guards around the clock at that grocery store because of the risk of thefts and breaking windows to get in,” he said.
The manager was unaware of whether the license was suspended, saying, “I believe the company renews the license every year. I will check with the CEO to find out.”
BY SUAH JANG, KYEONGJUN KIM, HOONSIK WOO
[jang.suah@koreadaily.com, kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
