Police Officer Sonny Lee Kim, age 48, of the Cincinnati Police Department, was shot and killed on June 19, 2015, while responding to a 911 call in Madisonville, Cincinnati, OH. The incident occurred when Officer Kim was the first to arrive at the scene where a man, later identified as Trepierre Hummons, had called 911 claiming to have a gun and acting belligerently. Upon Officer Kim's arrival, Hummons immediately opened fire, wounding Officer Kim and disarming him.
Hummons then used Officer Kim's gun to shoot at a Hamilton County probation officer and a second Cincinnati police officer who arrived at the scene. The second officer returned fire, fatally wounding Hummons. Despite efforts to save him, Officer Kim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The investigation revealed that Hummons had been in a distressed state due to his girlfriend filing rape charges against him the night before. He had also consumed alcohol and had a Valium-like drug in his system. Hummons' mother, Khanita Maston, claimed that her son knew Officer Kim from his work in the neighborhood and believed he wanted Kim to shoot him, not the other way around. However, prosecutors determined that Hummons had intended to commit suicide by cop.
In the aftermath of Officer Kim's death, the community honored his memory by renaming East Hyde Park Commons to Officer Sonny Kim Park in February 2020. Officer Kim, who was of Asian American ethnicity, had served with the Cincinnati Police Department for 27 years and was well-respected in the community. He is survived by his wife and three sons.
The tragic incident highlighted the dangers police officers face daily and the impact such losses have on their families and communities. Officer Kim's legacy continues to be remembered and honored by those who knew him and the community he served.
