Calif. gang member faces death penalty trial

One woman died, several injured in attack on Cypress cafe in 2004. 
A reputed member of an Asian street gang nicknamed "dragon" faces a death penalty trial beginning today for allegedly gunning down one woman and shooting at six other people in an unprovoked attack at a Cypress cafe in 2004.

Stephenson Choi Kim, 31, of San Gabriel is charged with murder, six felony counts of attempted murder and street terrorism, plus several sentencing enhancements. He is also accused of the special circumstances of committing a murder for the benefit of his gang, which qualifies him for a potential death sentence.

It is the first death penalty trial in Orange County this year. Opening statements are expected today before Superior Court Judge John D. Conley in the Central Justice Center.

Six co-defendants are also charged with similar crimes, but they face maximum sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

The co-defendants are Robin Kim, 28, of Cerritos; Christopher Ung, 27, of Lakewood; Wilson Sun, 28, of Lakewood; Chakris Kanchanapoomi, 27, of Long Beach; Ashil Manek Nair, 26, of Cerritos; and Glenn Lamuel Watkins, 24, of Lakewood.

Prosecutors say Stephenson Kim was drinking at a home March 14, 2004, with several members of his gang, including Robin Kim, Nair, Sun, Watkins, Kanchanapoomi, and Ung, when they decided to drive around looking for rival gang members to fight.

The defendants are accused of driving to 5th Wave Café in Cypress, where Venus Hyun, 22, was having dinner with six friends. Two of the co-defendants approached the table and asked if any of Hyun's friends were gang members, prosecutors said.

Richard Woodhead tried to explain that he had been connected to a gang, but that he "didn't bang anymore," and that the two gangs were not enemies anyway, says a news release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Stephenson Kim, who had been waiting outside, then took out a handgun, entered the crowded cafe, walked up to the table where Hyun and Woodhead were sitting with other friends, and started shooting, prosecutors said.

A bullet struck Hyun in the back, bounced off her shoulder blade and lodged in her brain, prosecutors said. She collapsed and died later at the hospital.

Four others at Hyun's table were wounded, including Jean Lee and Ronald Woodhead. Two others escaped the shooting spree unscathed.

Orange county register