Despite the seriousness of the incident, the suspect continues to work and live a normal life, leading to petitions for judicial justice spreading throughout the Korean American community in New York and New Jersey.
Yan and Ada Gabriela lost their lives in the crash, while Katya Gabriela sustained critical injuries. Fairfax County State Attorney Steve Descano called for “severe punishment,” and the suspect was initially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, which could result in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. However, one year later, justice has yet to be served.
On June 7, marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic incident, family members and friends of the victims held a protest at the site of the accident and appealed for support through an online petition (https://chng.it/HdTtBk2jSv), which was shared across the social networks of major Korean American organizations in New York and New Jersey.
“It simply doesn’t make sense,” remarked Pastor Young Bae Kim of Kingstowne Baptist Church, who participated in the protest. “The driver was fully responsible for the accident, resulting in the loss of two lives,” he added, emphasizing the crucial need for accountability. “If this remains unanswered, who will address the grief of the bereaved families and the injustice faced by the children whose lives were taken?”
BY JONGWON PARK [support@koreadaily.com]
