On January 1, 2009, Sarith Em, a 25-year-old Iraq war veteran, was tragically shot and killed alongside his girlfriend, Vannaly Tim, in Long Beach, California. The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m., less than an hour into the New Year, outside their apartment in the Signal Hill area on Gardenia Avenue. The couple had stepped outside to move their car to avoid a potential parking ticket when they were gunned down.
Tim's younger sister, Debi So, heard the gunshots but initially thought they were part of New Year's celebrations. When she ran outside, she found Em lying on top of Tim, both victims of multiple gunshot wounds. Em was shot several times in the back, and one of the bullets went through his body and into Tim's chest.
The Long Beach Police Department responded to the scene, but the investigation faced significant challenges, as there were few leads to identify the perpetrator. The nature of the crime, with Em and Tim attacked without apparent provocation, left the community and their families devastated. The couple had been described as young and hardworking—Em, who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked for a box-making company, while Tim worked at Lakewood Mall. The incident was one of the first homicides recorded in Los Angeles County for 2009, a tragic start to the New Year.
The investigation into Sarith Em and Vannaly Tim's murder remains unsolved. Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Long Beach Police Department, as the lack of witnesses and unclear motives continue to make the case challenging. This tragedy, highlighting the violence that still affected certain parts of Long Beach, drew attention to the ongoing struggle to bring justice to victims of violent crime in the area.
