A suspected California killer accused in two murders was hauled back to the US this week after spending nearly a decade on the run — and hiding more than 8,000 miles away in Laos.
Myung Jin Kim, 31, was captured in Laos in May and returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday to face murder charges in two separate California killings, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities believe Kim orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot in 2016 targeting a San Jose man. But the plan allegedly went sideways when the hitman killed the wrong person.
Investigators later uncovered evidence suggesting the shooting was a targeted attack arranged by Kim. A warrant was issued for his arrest, but he had already vanished.
Two years later, while out on bail in Orange County after serving time on drug charges, Kim allegedly struck again.
Prosecutors say he gunned down his friend, Christian Kim, outside a CVS in Westminster in 2018 during a dispute over money.
Kim allegedly shot Christopher six times before fleeing the scene.
A murder warrant was issued, but authorities again couldn’t find him.
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As investigators dug deeper into the Westminster killing, they also tied Kim to the 2016 slaying, leading prosecutors to file additional charges including murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
In December, the manhunt for Kim finally came to an end when he was found in Laos. Officials began working with multiple agencies to bring him back for justice to be served.
In May, he was busted for using fraudulent travel documents and on June 9 he was flown back to LAX.
“Mr. Kim’s cowardly acts of violence finally caught up with him, despite being halfway across the globe,” Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, said.
San José Police Chief Paul Joseph said their detectives “never gave up on this case, and their persistence, combined with extraordinary support from our law enforcement partners, brought this suspect back to San José to face justice.”
“If you come to our city and commit murder or any other serious crime, we will track you down and arrest you,” Westminster Police Chief Darin Lenyi added.
“No matter how long it takes us or where you flee to, we are coming for you.”
Kim is currently in custody in Santa Clara County where he will face charges for the murder in the city. He will then be transported to Orange County to deal with murder charges suspected of slaying his friend.
Authorities said Kim marks the first time a wanted fugitive has been returned to the United States from Laos.
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