The younger brother of a suspect ” whose attempted murder charges were dropped last month in a Pacific Beach shooting ” has been charged with shooting a man three times.
Aaron Sung-Uk Park, 23, also known as Paul Eric Kim, has pleaded not guilty to the same charge his older brother, David Minuk Park, faced for three months in San Diego Superior Court. David Park’s attorney, William Nimmo, was able to prove to the District Attorney’s Office they had the wrong man.
Aaron Park is charged with shooting Eric Joseph, 25, on Sept. 17, around 2 a.m. on the 4500 block of Mission Boulevard. Joseph saw a fight in the parking lot of a taco shop but did not get involved. One of his friends did help to break up the fight, but the suspect came after Joseph minutes later.
The suspect yelled, “Who pushed me?” and fired three shots, which struck Joseph in both legs and right hip. He suffered several broken bones in his legs and a fracture to his hip.
According to an arrest warrant declaration, the younger Park resembles his brother and that may account for witnesses initially identifying David Park as the gunman.
Bail has been set at $500,000 for Aaron Park, and he has a preliminary hearing set for Feb. 7, which may be delayed. The attempted murder charge alleges the shooting was premeditated, and Park could receive a life sentence if he is convicted.
After receiving tips to the shooter’s identity, police obtained the cell phone records of both Park brothers. Though the records show David Park was in North County near the time of the shooting, his brother was in Pacific Beach near Garnet Avenue, according to court records.
Police officers interviewed a woman who reported a cell phone conversation with Aaron Park minutes after the shooting. The woman had witnessed the fight, got knocked down herself, and left. She heard several shots five minutes later, and she says Aaron Park called her.
“Oh, my God, Aaron. Was that you?” the woman asked Aaron Park, according to court records.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Aaron Park was quoted as saying. He then asked her not to say anything.
The next day the same woman went to David Park’s apartment in Mira Mesa and witnessed a conversation between him and Aaron Park.
“I never meant to hurt anybody. I just meant to scare them. That’s why I pointed at his legs,” Aaron Park was quoted as telling his brother.
Aaron Park drove a 2000 GMC midsize pickup truck, and its license plate is similar to the partial plate of the getaway vehicle the night of the shooting, records say. Surveillance video from the taco shop was studied by police, and it shows someone who closely resembles Aaron Park by the restaurant’s window, records say.
Aaron Park lives in Las Vegas, and his home was searched by police on Dec. 21. Clothing and shoes that match the description of the gunman were found there, the arrest warrant declaration says.
David Park was arrested on Sept. 23. After police officers read his Miranda rights, he requested an attorney, and he made no statement to police.
Aaron Park was arrested Jan. 24 and remains in the Vista Detention Facility.