Woman Shot to Death During Apparent Robbery in Koreatown

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Los Angeles: Homicide Detectives of Wilshire Operations Support Division are investigating a homicide that occurred on Tuesday, December 12, 2000, at approximately 11:15 p.m.

The homicide occurred inside the subterranean garage located at 102 South Oxford Avenue. The victim , identified as Jee Yeon Nam, a Korean female, 20 years of age, was stopped at the driveway leading to her apartment’s subterranean garage, when she was approached by two Hispanic male suspects. Suspect # 1, identified as 19 year-old Victor Salazar, a male Hispanic, fired one round from a handgun striking the victim in the head area. The victim then drove her vehicle southbound inside the garage area and collided with a parked vehicle. Salazar ran after the victim’s vehicle and approached the driver side, while Suspect # 2 (identified only as a 16 year old male Hispanic) remained at the entrance of the driveway as a lookout. Salazar fired a second round at the victim, again striking her in the head area.

Both suspects then fled on foot from the location. Shortly after the shooting patrol officers observed both suspects walking in the 300 block of Harvard Boulevard and detained them for investigation. Witnesses later positively identified both suspects and they were taken into custody and booked for murder at Wilshire Station.

Paramedics responded to the location and pronounced the victim dead. The motive for the murder appears to be robbery. Both suspects have been booked for Murder.

The investigation is being conducted by Wilshire Homicide Detectives K. Cooper, D. Dupree and M. Smith and they can be contacted at 213-473-0444.

This press release was prepared by Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213 485-3586. Information for the press release was provided by Detective III Mel Smith of the Wilshire Homicide Unit.

For Release 12:00 pm PST
December 13, 2000