A Korean-American man in his 50s has been arrested on charges of attempted murder of an elderly Korean-American man in his 80s.
The LA County Coroner’s Office announced that Kyung Chang (82), a Korean male senior, passed away on the morning of December 23 at 10:11 AM. The coroner determined that Chang’s death was a homicide, caused by sequelae of blunt force head trauma.
According to the coroner’s office, Chang died at an assisted living facility near the 500 block of South Indian Hill Boulevard in the Claremont area.
Detective Eddie Romeli of the Claremont Police Department confirmed on December 27 that while Chang did die at the assisted living facility, he was not murdered there.
Detective Romeli stated, “Chang was attacked by an acquaintance in a residential neighborhood near 500 block of East Baseline Road in Claremont on November 1. After receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, he was transferred to the assisted living facility where he later passed away.”
Romeli also confirmed that the suspect who attacked Chang has been arrested. However, he did not disclose the nature of their relationship or the motive behind the crime, apart from stating that they were acquaintances.
The LA County District Attorney’s Office identified the suspect as 56-year-old James Joonsuk Chang. According to the complaint shared by DA public information specialist Zara Lockshin, Chang has been charged with attempted murder and elder or dependent adult abuse.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
