| For Immediate Release Case # 04NF4451 February 7, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN FACES TRIAL FOR EXECUTION STYLE MURDER OF ANAHEIM LIQUOR STORE OWNER
SANTA ANA – A man faces trial tomorrow for his role in the shooting-murder of a Korean-American liquor store owner while burglarizing the store. Raheem Abdul Edwards, 30, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of robbery and burglary and faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Co-defendant Robert Quenton Feeney, 30, (Case # 04NF4355) was found guilty by a jury April 22, 2008, of murder and the sentencing enhancements for murder during the commission of robbery and burglary were found true. He was sentenced June 13, 2008, to life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
At approximately 9:25 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2000, Edwards is accused of going with Feeney to the Lucky Seven Liquor Mart in Anaheim wearing hooded sweatshirts and gloves. The store owner, Haeng Shin Kim, 57, was working behind the counter. The defendants put several items on the counter and Edwards is accused of walking away to the back of the store.
The victim followed Edwards to the back of the store and Feeney walked outside. Feeney then re-entered the store and walked to the back toward Edwards and the victim.
Once at the back of the store, Feeney pulled a firearm from the waistband of his pants. As Kim struggled to get away and began to run to the front of the store, Feeney shot the victim one time in the back. The victim fell to the ground and tried to escape by crawling to the door, but Feeney walked up behind the defendant and executed him by shooting him in the back of the head.
Edwards is accused of then stealing money from the cash register as Feeney watched the door. A customer pulled into the parking lot and the defendants fled the scene. The customer found the victim and called 911, but Kim was pronounced dead at the scene. The murder was captured on surveillance cameras from the liquor store.
On Dec. 3, 2004, Feeney was arrested in Independence, Mo., on a probation violation related to an Iowa sexual assault conviction. Detectives from the Anaheim Police Department interviewed Feeney in Missouri and the defendant was brought back to Orange County to face charges.
Edwards was charged as a fugitive on Dec. 13, 2004. He was extradited from New York to Orange County on July 30, 2009.