The Korean-American community has been shocked by the arrest of a pair of Korean-American siblings in their 50s, who are accused of fatally shooting a man in his 60s in broad daylight at a local park.
On March 10, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) announced that they arrested John Moon (54, Korean name Chong Uk Moon) and Cindy Kim (58) for the murder of Cuauhtémoc García, a 66-year-old businessman.
![John Moon (left) and Cindy Kim appear in a TikTok video before the fatal Cerritos park shooting. [TikTok screenshot]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/0317-siblings.jpg)
On March 12, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Moon and Kim for murder and attempted second-degree robbery.
According to the prosecution, García had visited Don Knabe Regional Park for a walk on the day of the incident. He parked his vehicle on Briarwood Street, near the park’s entrance, around 12:30 p.m., intending to take a stroll along the Coyote Creek bike path.
As soon as he stepped out of his car, Moon and Kim allegedly approached him in an attempt to steal the vehicle. However, when García refused to hand over his car keys, Moon shot him. Kim, his elder sister, reportedly stood by and witnessed the fatal shooting. García succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Details about the suspects’ whereabouts before the crime remain unclear. Notably, at the time of their arrest, Moon and Kim were reportedly living inside a silver Toyota Prius, raising further questions about their circumstances. Based on their last known address, authorities determined that they were from the La Palma area, approximately one mile from the park.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman condemned the act, calling it a “senseless and brutal act of violence that took the life of a husband, father of two, and respected businessman.” He pledged to pursue the maximum punishment allowed by law.
If convicted on all charges, the suspects could face life sentences. Prosecutors have requested bail amounts of $3 million for Moon and $2 million for Kim.
A TikTok video played a crucial role in their capture. The sheriff’s department stated that after releasing a wanted poster on March 7, they received a tip from a citizen who recognized the siblings from a viral TikTok video.
The video showed the suspects engaging in a heated argument with others and making racist remarks. It was filmed by a tourist from Florida at a Panera Bread café in Cypress, California, just days before the crime. In the footage, Moon and Kim were seen repeatedly directing racial slurs at other patrons.
Based on the tip and additional investigation, authorities identified the siblings as suspects and confirmed that they had been using a silver Toyota Prius.
The suspects were apprehended in Anaheim on March 10 after a pursuit involving officers from the Fullerton and Anaheim police departments. According to law enforcement officials, a Fullerton police officer spotted their vehicle that evening, prompting the siblings to attempt to flee before they were ultimately captured.
Authorities noted that tracking the suspects was challenging because they were living in their vehicle.
By Mooyoung Lee [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]
