By Tien-Shun Lee
A Virginia man who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend and her younger daughter to death and wounded the woman's older daughter and husband in Fresh Meadows and Elmhurst in January was indicted last week, the Queens district attorney said.
He could face death if the DA decides to seek the death penalty and he is convicted.
According to police, Moo Chul Shin, 31, of Springfield, Va., went on a bloody rampage on Jan. 3 after his ex-girlfriend, Sook Kim, 34, left him to return to her husband and children at 196-05 65th Crescent in a quiet, residential neighborhood in Fresh Meadows.
Shin went to 98th Street and 55th Avenue in Elmhurst, outside Lefrak City, and stabbed Kim's husband, Hyun Sik Kim, who was on his way to work, in the neck at around 6 a.m., the DA said. He then went to the Kims' home and stabbed Kim, her 7-year-old daughter, Clara Kim, and her 7-year-old daughter, Estelle Kim, according to the criminal complaint.
Kim and her younger daughter died as a result of their wounds.
“The lives of the father and daughter who survived the savage attack have been shattered by what was a terrible and tragic crime of bloodshed and death,” said DA Richard Brown.
Shin has been charged in a 26-count indictment with murder, attempted murder, burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child, said Brown.
Under the state's capital punishment statute, Brown must decide within 120 days of Shin's indictment whether or not to seek the death penalty.
If he is convicted but does not receive the death penalty, Shin faces possible sentences of life in prison without parole or consecutive prison terms of 20 to 25 years if convicted, said the DA.
After allegedly committing the multiple stabbings, Shin was found in a room in the Anchor Motor Inn in Bayside, lying in bed in a shirt and underwear with both of his wrists slit, police said.
Shin was taken to New York Hospital Medical Center Queens, where he was treated and released to the custody of corrections authorities, the DA's office said.
Reach reporter Tien-Shun Lee by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com, or call 718-229-0300, ext. 155.
