TACOMA, Wash. — A community gathered around the heart of its Tacoma neighborhood, The Little Store, to honor and remember its owner Charlie Park, who was a staple.
“They immigrated here 16 years ago and when they immigrated they came straight here. Even though Korea is his birthplace, he considered here his hometown,” said Park’s pastor at Saturday’s vigil
The store and his family were Park’s world, which was cut short Tuesday when a 16 and 18-year-old reportedly tried to rob his store at gunpoint. The clerk made it out, but Park was shot and killed.
The two teenagers were arrested in connection to his death.
Just after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, dispatch received a call about a possible shooting in the 3500 block of South Ainsworth Avenue, according to the police department. Officers found a man with gunshot wounds at the scene.
Tacoma Fire Department crews arrived to attempt life-saving efforts alongside officers, however, Park died at the scene.
Park was one of the owners of The Little Store, a convenience store that sits at the corner of South 35th Street and South Ainsworth Avenue.
“Such a senseless loss is a stark reminder of the darkness that can sometimes fill our lives, but we’re here to celebrate the life of an incredible man who meant so much to all of us,” said Park’s son-in-law.
18-year-old Angel Mendez is the suspected shooter. The day after Park was killed, the two suspects were caught after allegedly robbing another store at gunpoint less than two miles away.
Two customers watched the pair get into a car and yelled at them to stop. Then, one of the suspects turned and fired a shot at the customer's vehicle, according to the Tacoma Police Department.
“Then the next day I walked into work and I felt like today is the day we’re going to get robbed,” said the clerk who was held up.
For the clerk, who wanted his identity concealed, his fear unfortunately came true.
“I was out in front of the register cleaning our displays out front and they just came around the register and he had a semi-automatic pistol in his hand and he racked it and pointed it at me and said get on the ground unless you want to get shot,” he said.
The clerk said he waited 10 seconds before getting up and the two suspects had already run out. He said they took such violent actions to steal e-cigarettes.
“One of the few things that went through my head was this would suck if they senselessly shoot me for no reason. I'm not religious, but I was repeating it, almost praying it basically," the clerk said.
The clerk said he got lucky. According to court documents, police were able to connect the suspects to both crimes through matching bullet casings and surveillance video at each scene.
“We’re just glad things happened the way they did here because it couldn't have ended better for us and couldn't have ended worse for the bad guys,” the clerk said.
An arrest brought some solace to those who knew Park, but the pain and loss for the family remains as the community vows to lift them up.
“I said a prayer for the family to bring them peace and to bring the community together more and be there for one another. It’s really heartwarming to see all the people that cared about them because they are a staple in the community. The Little Store, it's been here forever, so it's emotional,” said Autumn Shamps, who lives nearby.
Mendez was charged Friday with first-degree aggravated murder, first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and first-degree attempted robbery. His bail was set at $7 million.
The 16-year-old was charged with first-degree robbery and two counts of first-degree assault. His bail was set at $750,000.
The Little Store has served the Tacoma neighborhood for the past 16 years. A candlelight vigil was held for Park at The Little Store on Saturday, Oct. 7.