Crime & Safety
Senior Charged With Murder Of Long Beach Fire Captain Dies
Thomas Kim, 77, died early Sunday morning at the jail ward at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
LONG BEACH, CA – Thomas Kim, the 77-year-old man accused of murdering a Long Beach fire captain and wounding two others at a senior housing complex in June, has died while in custody from a pre-existing medical condition, the sheriff's department confirms.
Kim died early Sunday morning at the jail ward at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. He had been charged with capital murder and other counts stemming from the June 25 killing of fire Capt. Dave Rosa. Rosa was killed when he responded to a report of an explosion at the Covenant Manor senior living facility, an 11-story building in the 600 block of East Fourth Street in Long Beach.
Kim allegedly set off an explosive device in his apartment in an effort to kill a female neighbor who lived above him and with whom he had been feuding, according to prosecutors.
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Police said a note that was drafted by Kim and recovered at the scene led investigators to believe it was a murder/suicide attempt. A preliminary investigation led police to believe the fire was set as a result of the dispute between Kim and his neighbor, not to draw first responders to the location to ambush them, according to a statement issued by the Long Beach Police Department.
After the explosion in his apartment, Kim reportedly sat at the opposite end of the hallway and fired on Rosa as he made his way down the hall, according to prosecutors.
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Kim also allegedly wounded firefighter Ernesto Torres, 35, and a civilian who lived in the building, according to prosecutors.
He is charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder of a firefighter, arson of an inhabited structure and explosion with intent to murder, along with two counts of attempted murder.
The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegation of murder while a firefighter was on duty, along with an allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death.
City News Service contributed to this post; Image via Shutterstock
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