In the early morning hours of a November Saturday in 2018, a night of camaraderie and business at a Duluth, Georgia bar ended in tragedy for its 47-year-old co-owner, James Kim. An altercation that began inside the Prime Bar and Grill on Day Drive escalated and spilled out into the parking lot, erupting in gunfire. In the ensuing chaos, Kim, a man described by friends as well-known and respected within the local Korean community, was caught in the crossfire and fatally wounded. Another man, 26-year-old Malik Jett, was also killed in the shooting. Police at the time believed Kim was an innocent bystander to the dispute.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led authorities to identify a suspect: 23-year-old Samuel Songsy. An arrest warrant for aggravated assault was issued for Songsy in connection with the altercation with Jett. After a brief period on the run, Songsy turned himself in to the Gwinnett County Detention Center. His attorney claimed that his client's actions were in self-defense, alleging that Malik Jett had been firing a weapon indiscriminately.
Following Songsy's surrender, the Gwinnett County Police Department stated that the investigation into the two deaths was ongoing. However, publicly available information regarding the final disposition of any charges against Samuel Songsy in relation to the death of James Kim remains elusive. Details regarding whether the aggravated assault charge was upgraded, the outcome of any subsequent trial, or if the case was otherwise resolved have not been detailed in available online sources. The narrative of that fatal night concludes with an arrest, a claim of self-defense, and an ongoing investigation, leaving the ultimate resolution of the case unclear.
