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The wife of a business owner was shot to death Friday during a robbery in which at least six people broke into a south Sacramento jewelry store, smashing glass and fleeing the scene within a minute, authorities and residents said.
The shooting broke out shortly before 11:45 a.m. at Kim Tin Jewelry on the 6800 block of Stockton Boulevard in Little Vietnam Plaza, said spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi. The mall is located just north of 65th Street.
Deputies have not yet determined who fatally shot the woman, Gandhi said, adding that investigators continued to document evidence as of Friday evening. But the business owner fired at the suspects, and it is believed the robbers returned fire, he said. Gandhi did not know whether the suspects had a gun, suffered any injuries or how much was taken during the incident.
The suspects remained on the run on Friday evening.
“This clearly required some coordination,” Gandhi said.
The Little Saigon district is home to several family-owned businesses that are closely linked in the area known for its Vietnamese restaurants, supermarkets and other small businesses.
“We don’t have to worry about not being able to get home to our family,” said Robin Ha, owner of a restaurant two doors down from the jewelry store.
Ha recalled seeing the victim at Kim Tin’s house, helping her husband while she worked at the store. She had a happy personality and always greeted Ha with a smile and wave, she said.
“A very sweet lady,” Ha said of the woman in her 50s, who will be identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office after she died at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center.
Officers locked down the shopping complex Friday afternoon until late at night while they searched the scene for evidence. They methodically lifted the police tape to allow patrons to leave the scene after asking if they had seen anything.
Gandhi said the suspects fled in two different vehicles that appeared to be sedans. He implored residents to call emergency services if they saw anything – even a short video filmed quickly could help investigators arrest the suspects.
As the sun set over the quiet parking lot, friends of the woman and her family arrived, seeking answers about what happened. They walked away in tears when officers broke the news that the woman had died.
Ha hugged her son tightly. She cried for the woman’s family and for what the victim’s husband saw. She
I couldn’t imagine seeing the death of a husband.
“He will keep that memory in his mind for the rest of his life,” Ha said.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-5115. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can also call Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357 or the Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-8477. Callers may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
