Father Sets Car on Fire, Kills Children

Los Angeles: A father apparently killed his two children after he set the family car on fire in an alley near the Los Angeles Garment District. The father, Dae Kwon Yun, 54, was critically burned, but is expected to survive.

Witnesses called the police and fire department around 4:40 PM on Sunday after they saw Yun arguing in Korean with his 11-year-old daughter outside the family’s white Toyota Sequoia. It was parked in a secluded alley behind 1212 Stanford Street.

The SUV erupted into flames just moments after Yun forced the daughter into the car, then seated himself in the front passenger seat. As the car burned from the inside, Yun opened the door and rolled out. He was lying on the ground when firefighters arrived to dowse the flames. Firefighters found two children’s bodies in the backseat. Pending confirmation from the Coroner’s Office, detectives believe the two children were 11-year-old Ashley and 10-year-old Alexander Yun.

Yun is in critical condition at the burn ward of a local hospital. He is expected to survive his injuries, and he will be booked on two counts of murder of his children.

Detectives believe the murders were related to the estrangement of Yun and his wife, who owns a small business in the garment district. The couple had been separated for about two weeks, and Yun was living out of his car. According to the wife, Yun may have also been distraught over a gambling debt.

Yun’s wife expected him to return the children Sunday evening after the movies.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to call Robbery Homicide Division at 213-485-2531. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).