Is Soon Ja Du Still Alive? What Happened to Soon Ja Du?

Who is Soon Ja Du?

Soon Ja Du was born on December 27, 1941, in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. At the age of 35, in 1976, she migrated to Los Angeles along with her family. She had a background in literature and had graduated from a university in Seoul, South Korea.

Soon Ja Du followed Christianity and, along with her husband, became actively involved in the Valley Korean Central Presbyterian Church in North Hills, Los Angeles, where they served as deacons. Her family background included her father, who was a doctor, and her mother, a nurse. Soon Ja Du married Billy Heung Ki Du on December 15, 1958. They had three children together, two sons named Joseph and Michel, and a daughter named Sandy. In 1991, Sandy was a theological student at Biola University.

Throughout her life, Soon Ja Du had various work experiences. She began as a couch assembler and later worked as a crotchetier in a garment factory called St. John Knits. In 1981, she and her husband purchased a convenience store, Empire Liquor Store, located in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. It was at this store that the tragic shooting of Latasha Harlins occurred in 1991, leading to Soon Ja Du’s involvement in the legal proceedings and subsequent conviction of voluntary manslaughter.

Is Soon Ja Du Still Alive?

Soon Ja Du was reported to be living in the San Fernando Valley in California. However, her current status remains doubtful as there have been no further updates on her whereabouts since the 15-year anniversary of the L.A. Riots. Soon Ja Du and her family migrated to Los Angeles in 1976 when she was 35 years old, and she had a background in literature, having graduated from a university in Seoul, South Korea.

Soon Ja Du followed Christianity and, along with her husband, became involved in the Valley Korean Central Presbyterian Church in North Hills, Los Angeles, where they served as deacon and deaconess. Her father was a doctor, and her mother was a nurse. She got married to Billy Heung Ki Du on December 15, 1958, and they had three children together – two sons named Joseph and Michel, and a daughter named Sandy.

Soon Ja Du had various work experiences, starting as a couch assembler and later becoming a crotchetier in a garment factory called St. John Knits. In 1981, she and her husband purchased a convenience store, Empire Liquor Store, in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles.

It was at this store that the tragic shooting of Latasha Harlins occurred in March 1991, leading to Soon Ja Du’s involvement in a trial where she was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. Despite the conviction, she did not serve time in prison, which sparked controversy and dissatisfaction from the victim’s family.

Since then, there have been no further public updates on Soon Ja Du’s life or whereabouts. The information available only indicates that she was living in the San Fernando Valley in California as of the last known report.

What Happened to Soon Ja Du? 

On March 16, 1991, a tragic incident occurred at the Empire Liquor Market, owned by the family of Soon Ja Du, a Korean immigrant. 15-year-old Latasha Harlins entered the store and placed a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her bag. Security cameras showed that she had money in her hand as she approached the counter. However, Du did not see the money and accused Harlins of attempting to steal the orange juice.

A confrontation ensued between Du and Harlins, resulting in a brief scuffle. Harlins then decided to leave the orange juice on the counter and started to leave the store. In a shocking turn of events, Du shot Harlins in the back of the head as she was walking away. This act of violence led to the death of the young girl.

Soon Ja Du was charged and went on trial for the shooting. During her trial, she testified on her own behalf, claiming that she believed her life was in danger during the altercation with Harlins. The investigators also discovered that the handgun used in the shooting had been illegally altered to have a more sensitive trigger.

Du was ultimately convicted of voluntary manslaughter, but the sentence handed down by Judge Joyce Karlin sparked outrage and controversy. Instead of serving time in prison, she received a suspended sentence of five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and a fine. This lenient sentence enraged many members of the black community in Los Angeles, who felt that justice had not been adequately served.

The shooting death of Latasha Harlins, along with the controversial sentencing of Soon Ja Du, added fuel to the growing anger and resentment within the city. It contributed to the tension that eventually exploded in the form of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, following the verdict in the Rodney King case.

As for Soon Ja Du’s current whereabouts, it was reported on the 15-year anniversary of the L.A. Riots that she was living in the San Fernando Valley in California. However, there have been no further updates on her location since then.

Where is Soon Ja Du Now? 

As of the last known information, Soon Ja Du, who was originally from Korea, was reported to be living in the San Fernando Valley in California. In March 1991, she was on duty at the Empire Liquor store, where she worked despite it being unusual for her to be behind the counter as her husband or son usually operated the convenience store. On that fateful morning, her husband was outside while she was inside.

Following the shooting of Latasha Harlin, Soon Ja Du went on trial and testified on her own behalf, stating that she believed her life was in danger when the shooting occurred. The investigators found that the handgun used had been illegally altered, featuring a more sensitive trigger.

In November 1991, Soon Ja Du, who was then 51 years old, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. However, despite facing a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison, she did not have to spend time behind bars following the conviction. Judge Joyce Karlin sentenced her to time served, 400 hours of community service, a $500 fine, and five years of probation.

The decision not to impose a prison sentence has been a subject of controversy, with the victim’s family feeling that justice had not been adequately served. On the 15-year anniversary of the L.A. Riots, Time reported that Soon Ja Du was still living in the San Fernando Valley in California. Any further updates on her whereabouts have not been made public since then.

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