"Changing Child's Birthday Outfit..." Korean American Family in Gun Tragedy, 6-Year-Old Son Left Alone

Korean Immigrant Couple Pursuing the 'American Dream' Since Childhood
3-Year-Old Child Also Victim in Dallas Mall Shooting
6-Year-Old Survivor Out of ICU and Under Treatment

The story of a Korean-American family who were victims in the mass shooting at a shopping mall in the Dallas suburb of Texas has come to light, evoking even greater sorrow.

It was confirmed through the local consulate office that among the victims of the shooting on the 7th (local time), three members of a Korean-American family were included. A local Korean media outlet reported that they were the couple Jo Gyuseong (38) and Kang Shinyoung (36) and their 3-year-old child.

Lawyer Husband and Dentist Wife... Kind-hearted, Model Family in the Korean Community

Memorial sign placed at the shopping mall where the Texas shooting occurred [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to local Korean residents, the deceased couple Jo and Kang immigrated to the U.S. with their parents when they were young and were said to be more comfortable speaking Korean.

Jo was a lawyer and Kang was a dentist who had established themselves locally and were well regarded. They attended a Korean church and were actively involved in various activities helping fellow Koreans through volunteer work.

A representative of a local Korean media outlet said, "Both spouses were known for their kind nature," adding, "All their acquaintances here are in great shock."

According to the introduction on Jo’s law office website, "Born in Korea and raised in Dallas as an immigrant, I have deep pride, respect, and gratitude for the 'American Dream.' Especially immigration law is the field I am most passionate about, and I strive to better understand and assist clients by combining my broad legal knowledge with my own experience as an immigrant in the early 1990s."

It also states, "In my free time, I participate in church activities and enjoy spending time with my family watching my two sons grow."

The eldest son, the only survivor in this incident, sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder. After surgery, his physical condition has somewhat improved, but he is reported to be in great psychological shock.

According to a friend of the victims, on the day of the incident, the family had attended another friend’s birthday party and stopped by the Allen shopping mall after the gathering ended. The last friend who was with them expressed sorrow, saying, "If only they had stayed five minutes longer."

Donation Campaign Opens, Flood of Contributions... "We Are Friends of This Family"

On the 7th (local time), residents of Texas, USA, held a protest for stronger gun control in front of the Premium Outlets in Allen, a small suburb of Dallas where a shooting incident occurred the previous day.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Since the GoFundMe page was launched, a stream of anonymous and named donations honoring their sacrifice has continued.

On the 8th, a fundraising page was created on the American fundraising and support site GoFundMe, featuring their English names, family photos, and a request for help with funeral and other procedures.

The page creator stated, "We are friends of this family," and added, "We opened this GoFundMe page to help them."

They explained, "Last Saturday, Kyu (Jo Gyuseong), Cindy (Kang Shinyoung), William (eldest son), and James (youngest son) visited the Allen Outlet Mall. William had celebrated his 6th birthday four days earlier, and James is 3 years old. They went there to exchange clothes William received as birthday presents for different sizes."

They continued, "That afternoon, which should have been filled with light, love, and blessings, ended in an instant with a mass shooting that left eight victims. Cindy, Kyu, and 3-year-old James were tragically among the victims, and the family is in deep mourning."

They also said, "William, the 6-year-old son who was discharged from the intensive care unit, became the only survivor in this horrific incident."

They added, "This page was created to help the family cover funeral and other necessary expenses. Any donation, regardless of amount, will be greatly appreciated. Please share this (page) link with your family and friends."

U.S. Investigators Probe Motive... Tracking Possibility of Hate Crime

Memorial sign placed at the shopping mall where the Texas shooting occurred [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The Dallas Korean Association issued a condolence statement that day, saying, "The news of the death of a beautiful Korean family who were well regarded members of our community and devoted to their faith is deeply tragic and a great sorrow to all of us."

According to police and local media, at around 3:36 p.m. on the 6th, an armed assailant opened indiscriminate fire at the Premium Outlets in Allen, a suburb of Dallas, killing eight people and injuring many others. The perpetrator was also shot dead at the scene.

Investigators are probing the motive behind the crime and are examining the possibility that it was a hate crime based on extreme racism, considering posts the shooter made online.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.