Salinas business owner breaks silence after deadly attempted armed robbery

A Salinas business owner who watched his relative get beaten and shot to death inside his store is breaking his silence. It’s been more than two months since the deadly attempted armed robbery at the Hot Stop convenience store.

“I’m still feeling too much pain in my heart,” he said.

The business owner asked News Channel Five not to release his identity. He’s fearful knowing the two killers who held up the store Aug. 16 are still on the loose.

“At night time, I can’t get sleep, sometimes two to three-hour nights,” he said.

Having to reopen the store and sitting at the very counter where the tragic events unfolded doesn’t make it easier. That night he was in the back of the store when the two men walked in, striking him, his wife and relative.

He is okay, but 55-year-old Sook Mi Oh was beaten and murdered. His wife, who is still hospitalized in serious condition, is unable to remember anything.

Salinas police said Monday clues to the shooters have been few and far between.

“I need the community to help me and as soon as possible to catch the guys,” the business owner said.

And that’s why he’s breaking his silence now.

He said he needs the community’s help now more than ever to bring his family closure and get help paying for mounting medical bills.

Already there’s been an outpouring of community support on the GoFundMe account “Justice For Hot Stop.” More than $5,400 has been raised so far.

But while the business owner is trying to put what happened behind him, he still confronts that memory every time he comes to work.

“I’m scared still,” he said. “I’m scared.”

Salinas police said they are currently not getting significant information to point them in the right direction on this case.

Oh’s family is raising reward money for anyone who comes forward with information leading to an arrest. The link to the GoFundMe account is: http://www.gofundme.com/dcqn2o

Anyone with information on the shooting can report tips anonymously by calling 1-800-78-CRIME.