New court documents filed in the Carrollton mass shooting case reveal chilling details about how 69-year-old Seung Ho Han carried out the May 5 attack that killed two people and wounded three others at a Korean shopping center and a nearby apartment, including that he disarmed his victims of their cell phones before firing, planned to take his own life after the attack, and had live ammunition still in his pockets when officers arrested him.
Han, the owner of Kkanbu Sushi restaurant inside Ktowne Plaza, faces two counts of capital murder and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He remains in the Denton County Jail.
The Victims, Identified
The victim killed at the Gwangjang Korean Market was identified as Sung Rae Cho, 63, of Denton County, who died at the scene. The three survivors wounded at the market were identified as Young Yoo, Olivia Kim and Yo Sung Kim. The second victim killed was Edward Schleigh, who was found dead inside his apartment at The View Apartments on Old Denton Road approximately four miles from Ktowne Plaza.
The Motive: $75,000 and a Rent Dispute
According to the affidavit, Han told investigators he had given Schleigh $70,000 and Yoo $5,000 as part of a business arrangement connected to a Georgia property investment. Han said he later came to believe the deal had fallen apart and that his money would not be returned. He also blamed Olivia Kim for convincing Yoo to raise the monthly rent on his restaurant by $2,000. Han told detectives he was tired of his business associates taking his money and decided to exact revenge rather than pay his rent.
What Happened Inside the Market
Han arrived at the Gwangjang Korean Market the morning of May 5, telling the group he had brought rent money. He was carrying a loaded pistol. When the victims began threatening to call 911, Han collected their cell phones. He then shot Yoo, Olivia Kim, Yo Sung Kim and Cho before leaving the scene. Han then drove to The View Apartments on Old Denton Road and shot and killed Edward Schleigh inside his apartment.
The Arrest and What Came Next
After the second shooting, Han drove to the nearby H Mart because he wanted to say goodbye to workers at the fish market before planning to kill himself. Officers located and arrested him in the parking lot before he could leave. When searched, Han still had live ammunition in his pockets. During an interview with investigators conducted in Korean with the help of a bilingual officer, Han confessed to shooting all five victims.
The Community’s Response
The shootings have shaken Carrollton’s Korean business community. Daniel Shin, owner of Omi Korean Grill in the H Mart shopping center where Han was arrested, said business traffic dropped noticeably in the days after the shooting. “We always have people walking around and having fun, eating some good restaurants,” Shin said. “But this whole week, I just don’t see people. People are feeling it.”
One of the survivors, Young Yoo, told officers the group had gathered for a business meeting when Han arrived and began shooting.
A memorial to the victims has been placed inside the Korean Association of Dallas office. Han’s next court appearance has not been publicly scheduled. The investigation is ongoing.