Chung Kim: Dallas Police Department
Last year we wrote about a the double homicide of an area couple killed, possibly, as a result of a dispute over dog droppings.
Police say 75-year old Chung Kim shot and killed Jamie Stafford and Michelle Jackson, both 31-years old, at the apartment complex where they all lived, at 6108 Abrams, near Abrams and Northwest Highway.
The elderly man, Chung Kim, and the couple, who lived upstairs from him with their five children, began arguing a few months ago after the victims added a dog to their household. Witnesses say Chung was furious over dog droppings and noise caused by children and pet. On February 4, Kim allegedly shot Jackson as she stood on her balcony. Then he allegedly entered the apartment and shot Stafford who attempted to jump over the balcony before being shot to death. Michelle Jackson’s four elementary age children from a previous marriage were at school during the violence. The victims had a five-month-old baby at home. All children were placed with Child Protective Services and the dog went to a neighbor. Kim is in court this week facing capital murder charges.
His defense attorney argued yesterday that Kim was pushed over the edge by his neighbors’ bad behavior, reports the Dallas Morning News:
“Kim reported the couple had allowed droppings and urine from their deck to fall onto his porch. He called the police, filed code compliance complaints and sent emails to the homeowners association at Sable Ridge Condominiums during the months before the shooting, HOA president Carlota Robinson testified.”
The couple had received a notice of eviction before their deaths, Robinson continued. She says she observed Kim at his “breaking point.”
As both prosecuting attorneys and common sense tell us, killing is not an appropriate response to irresponsible behavior, even if they were terrible neighbors.
Shooting victims Michelle Jackson and Jamie Stafford
The judge has allowed evidence related to the couple’s alleged misbehavior into testimony (source), so it will be taken into consideration when determining Kim’s guilt and sentence.
