On a Tuesday afternoon in Tacoma, Washington, the life of a beloved 60-year-old male store owner, Seok Chul "Charlie" Park, was tragically cut short. On October 3, 2023, Park was fatally shot during a robbery at his place of business, The Little Store, located at 3501 S. Ainsworth Ave. The establishment was known as a welcoming place for the community.
The incident unfolded when a man, later identified as 18-year-old Angel Mendez, entered the store wearing a face mask and dark clothing.
Mendez brandished a handgun at a cashier and placed plastic bags on the counter. The quick-thinking cashier activated an emergency button and exited the store, with Mendez following him to the doorway. It was at this moment that Park emerged from a back room. Surveillance footage captured Park with his hands raised in a gesture of surrender at the counter. Despite his compliance, Mendez fired a single shot, striking Park in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The senseless act of violence sent ripples of grief through Park's family and the community he served. His wife, Chung Ran Choo, described the store as a "playground" for neighborhood children and a gathering spot for locals. She expressed the profound and lasting pain her family has endured, stating, "It wasn't just my husband who died, but that day, my family and I died as well."
Following an investigation, Angel Mendez was arrested. A day after the murder of Park, Mendez reportedly robbed another store for vape and tobacco products with a 16-year-old accomplice, Juan Manuel Calvario. Mendez was subsequently charged with first-degree aggravated murder for Park's death. He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to nearly 50 years in prison. The case against Calvario is ongoing in Pierce County Superior Court.
