A Halethorpe liquor store owner was fatally shot Tuesday night by a masked gunman during a robbery at his store.
Yang Koo Yoon, 46, who bought Selma Liquors in the 4600 block of Washington Blvd. four months ago, was shot several times about 8: 50 p.m. when he confronted two gunmen outside his store, Baltimore County police and relatives said. He died early yesterday at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
"He never really worried about being robbed, but it was always something on his mind," said Raymond Hong, a friend. "He was such a good and honest person, he would never have thought something like this would happen."
According to a police account, Yoon was in a back room and his wife and mother were at the front counter when two gunmen walked into the store and demanded money.
The gunmen collected an undetermined amount of cash and were running out the door when Yoon confronted them. Police said one of the gunmen shot him several times as he struggled with them.
Homicide detectives have made no arrests, but they have interviewed two witnesses who saw two men outside the store putting on masks and going inside shortly before the robbery, Lt. Sam Bauerman said.
Yesterday, as detectives canvassed the area and police recruits searched outside the store for evidence, Yoon's grief-stricken family and friends gathered inside.
Hong said that before buying Selma Liquors Yoon owned a liquor store in Prince George's County. He sold his old store and bought Selma Liquors because he thought it would be a better business opportunity and it was more convenient to his home in Burtonsville.
Anyone with information should call police at 887-2198.
Pub Date: 1/23/97
