On April 24 in the early morning, two robbers brutally stabbed a security guard before fleeing from LA Hannam Chain, a popular Korean supermarket in Los Angeles Koreatown.
The Korean-American security guard was seriously injured but was quickly taken to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and is now in stable condition. With the suspects still not arrested a week after the incident, the Korea Daily reached out to Ronald Na (69), the victim who nearly lost his life to the robbers. Na shared the severity of the crime he suffered and the experience of harsh working conditions in Koreatown, where he was exposed to danger on all sides.
-How is your condition now?
“I got out of the intensive care unit on April 28 and am currently in a regular hospital room. I was stabbed in one or two places on my left abdomen, three on my thighs, and two large ones below my knees. The stab wounds around my shins were particularly deep, almost penetrating, and required major surgery. I will be going home from the weekend and will be on outpatient treatment.”
-Tell us what happened during the incident
“I was walking through the parking lot as usual when suddenly two young Hispanic men jumped over the carts blocking the entrance to the parking lot. I told them to leave, but they started to lie on the ground and ignored me. I yelled at them, and they pretended to leave, but then they turned around and both pulled out knives. They were like long fruit knives. I had a taser and a pepper spray gun, but I didn’t think it was enough to take them down, so I ran away, but they chased me and stomped on me when I fell, and swung the knife at me.”
-How did you feel at the time?
“I felt like death was right in front of me. I crouched down thinking that I should not get stabbed in the chest to live, then I was stabbed in the left side of my body. I was so frightened that I didn’t even realize I was stabbed, but when I looked at the floor, there was a pool of blood. I thought I would really die if they took my phone away, so I fought them off and gave them my wallet. Soon, I saw them running away and in my fading consciousness, I dialed 911. The last thing I remember is seeing the paramedics hastily cutting my clothes, after which I lost consciousness completely.”
-How is the sequelae of the injury?
“I still can’t walk on the floor well. On top of that, I couldn’t sleep even though I had sleeping pills, so I asked my doctor to prescribe stronger ones. Every time I relive that moment, I feel a rush of panic. I feel like the mental trauma is actually worse than the injury.”
-Have you been in other danger before?
“I’ve been working as a security guard at Hannam Chain mall for about two and a half years, and recently there has been a string of crimes. This year, the pharmacy in the same mall was broken into and robbed twice, once during my shift. I thought they were drug addicts and looked dangerous, so I reported it but didn’t stop them.”
-Have you made any suggestions to Hannam Chain?
“The security guards were constantly worried about the dangerous working environment. Currently, we block the three entrances to the parking lot with grocery carts after closing time. Cars can’t get in, but people can get over the carts. The security company has asked Hannam Chain’s manager to install gate doors to block the entrance to the parking lot several times, but it didn’t happen. Currently, the mall has one security guard working 12 hours a day by himself. At night, it is like risking someone’s life to work.”
-How are you recovering?
“My wife, son, and daughter were very shocked and worried. I will be going through rehabilitation and focusing on my recovery. I will also actively cooperate with the police investigation to catch the attackers.”
BY SUAH JANG, HOONSIK WOO [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
