Mark Martinez, The Orange County Register
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La Habra police chief says shooting victim moved as if to attack an officer
Michael Sungman Cho was fatally shot by La Habra Police Monday, the incident is under investigation.
The man fatally shot by La Habra police Monday afternoon had a tire iron and made a motion as if he were going to attack an officer, Police Chief Dennis Kies told a gathering of the Korean community on Friday.
Vague details surrounding Michael Sungman Cho’s death prompted more than 50 people to attend the meeting, set up by Kies and the Korean-American Federation of Orange County at the group’s Garden Grove headquarters.
“Initially, we weren’t allowed to comment and that’s where the frustration grows,” Kies said. “No one was getting answers and we were also frustrated that we couldn’t give any.”
Police waited to release more information until witnesses were interviewed so as not to taint their version of events, the authorities said.
On Monday afternoon, police responded to two calls from the same person, about a suspect allegedly vandalizing vehicles' side windows and windshield wipers, the chief said.
The second call, at about 2 p.m., directed a patrol officer to a strip mall on Whittier Boulevard and Walnut Avenue. The caller then pointed out Cho, who was standing in front of the Seven Gold Liquor store, as the suspect.
Cho, 25, walked toward police with a tire iron in a hand and officers kept telling him to put it down, Kies said.
The officers told investigators Cho “appeared agitated” and didn’t respond to their commands, Kies said.
Cho turned and walked from police officers twice. The second time, an officer was trying to head him off when Cho made a motion as if to attack and the officer shot him, the police chief said.
The second officer then opened fire, according to a press release.
Cho was standing about 5 feet from the officer he threatened with the tire iron when he was shot, Kies said.
In response to a question, the chief said Cho was not shot in the back. He didn't know how many shots were fired or if drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.
Some audience members said the officers’ actions were too extreme and pushed for an explanation.
“I just don’t understand why they wouldn’t just disable him, not kill him,” said Mary Park, who described herself as a community member. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Some audience members wanted to know why taser guns or bean-bag rifles weren’t used.
Kies said Cho’s actions are what dictated the officers’ response. He wasn’t sure how quickly the chain of events unfolded or if the officers had time to grab an alternate weapon.
Richard Choi Bertsch, a representative for the Orange County Korean American Coalition, said although he understands the stress officers face on a daily basis, he wonders if Cho’s actions warranted the shooting.
“To come up with a reason why he was shot is difficult in our minds,” Bertsch said.
The District Attorney's Office is investigating the police-involved shooting, as is standard procedure. It could be months before the probe is completed, Kies said.
According to public records, Cho in 2006 pled guilty to driving under the influence and was sentenced to three years probation.
Friends and family of Cho, at 5 p.m. today, will hold a memorial outside the La Habra liquor store where he was shot.
"This just doesn't make sense," said friend Jason Chi, 24. "He was a smart, bright individual."
The two went to Walnut High School in Walnut.
Cho was an art major at UCLA and graduated in 2005. He was living with his parents in La Habra.
UCLA art professor James Welling said Cho was good-natured with a passion for ceramics and music.
“It seems really unlikely that he could be perceived as menacing,” Welling said. “He was always hanging around high-achieving art students.”
Contact the writer: 714-704-3730 or jfletcher@ocregister.com
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