The man accused of shooting a couple on his way to work, killing a pregnant woman in the process, has been charged.
King County prosecutors have formally charged Cordell Goosby with one count of first degree murder and attempted murder.
On Tuesday, June 13, police believe Goosby ran to Sung and Eina Kwon’s car and opened fire. Eina was hit four times and died. The little girl she had been carrying for eight months sadly also passed away. The reason he faces one murder charge and not two is that it is unclear whether the little girl was a ‘person’ in the legal sense at the time of her death. The State of Washington determines whether a baby is a “person” by the following common law detailed below:
The common law follows the “born alive” rule which “prescribes that only a person who is born alive can be a victim of homicide. Causing the death of a fetus, whether viable or not, was not considered homicide at common law. If, however, the fetus was born and then died from injuries inflicted before birth, a homicide prosecution could stand.
After being shot, Eina was rushed to hospital and her baby girl was delivered in emergency. Now investigators must go back and ask doctors the agonizing question of whether the little girl was a ‘person’ legally. If so, Goosby could face a second charge of first-degree murder.
“We watched her during her first pregnancy and we were watching this one,” said Michael Bufano, co-owner of Gallery Mack.
This family is now broken.
“Sometimes their son would come – growing like a weed. It’s hard to talk about it,” Michael said.
Michael owns Gallery Mack with his family. The whole Lenora block and Western Avenue is also like family, he said. Michael saw Eina almost every day, she brought him lunch and even prepared the food for his son’s wedding. Another business owner, Michael Hoyle of Hoyle Hat Co. a few doors down, said Eina was a “magnificent human” and even helped his friend who had an accident outside his restaurant. The same restaurant she and Sung came to the United States with a dream to open.
“A wonderful young company in difficulty. We all survived the pandemic together and they were finally able to hire people to help them. Just people you rooted for and wanted to have as friends and neighbors,” Michael said.
Court documents show the man charged with the murder, Cordell Goosby, had a stolen gun. Those same documents also said Goosby raised his hands and said, “I did it, I did it” on Tuesday when police arrested him. He told police he had a history of mental health. The documents show he asked the police if they could hear the ‘intercom’ in the ceiling and walls during his interview with them. The King County prosecutor’s office said investigators are now working to see if they can add a second murder charge to Goosby’s case.
“She was totally brilliant, totally fun to be around. Wouldn’t charge me a Diet Coke every time I tried to pay her. Just a wonderful, happy person,” Michael said.
The larger communities of Belltown and Seattle also felt the impact of Eina’s tragic death. A community organizer has organized a walk for Saturday morning. It’s to honor and remember Eina and her little girl, but it’s also to show that the community wants change.
“I think the rest of the Asian American community, especially Korean Americans, is we were shocked,” Susanna Keilman said. She is behind Saturday’s march. She added, “I think so much has been sacrificed even before you get to the United States, and when you come to the United States, you hope to live your American dream.”
Susanna’s mother is also from South Korea. She said she needed to do more than cry, which is why she organized the march. It’ll start at 10:45 a.m. at 4th Ave and Lenora, where the shooting happened. They will have a minute of silence at 11 a.m., the same time gunfire rang out at this intersection three days ago.
“We have city and state funding for homelessness. we have horrible policies that the police literally have to walk past an open drug scene. It is all the crime that preceded this one that emboldens the criminals.
The walk will end at the family’s restaurant on Western Ave. and Lenora, Aburiya Bento House. Susanna hopes this effort will send a powerful message and prevent this from happening to another innocent family.
“There is strength in numbers, but you and I should feel safe walking through Belltown. you and I should feel safe walking in our city. You and I should feel safe when we are alone, no matter the day or the time,” Susanna said.