ATLANTA — Community members gathered Thursday evening to remember a popular convenience store owner who was stabbed to death.
Relatives identified the victim as 62-year-old Baik Sung. The victim's son, James, told Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot that his father worked at the store for more than 20 years and was usually there 365 days a year. He said his father grew up poor in Korea and was very dedicated to family.
The slaying happened at about 8 a.m. Thursday inside the Southern Supermarket located at the corner of Westview Drive and Lawton Street in southwest Atlanta. Atlanta police released surveillance video of a man wanted in connection with the crime.
Police Maj. Keith Meadows told Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot that it appears some kind of fight broke out inside the store during the robbery and that the bandit stabbed the victim several times.
SLIDESHOW: Man Found Dead In Store
Police said many customers knew Baik Sung as "Paw Paw" and said he was a fixture in the community.
"They didn't have to do Paw Paw like that," said Quanna Weaver, a long-time customer. "Everybody in the neighborhood loved Paw Paw. He's the neighborhood's soul."
Vigil Held For Beloved Store Owner
Detectives marked a trail of evidence out of the store to a parking spot across the street where they said the killer's getaway car may have been parked.
Crime Stoppers Atlanta is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Any information on the case can be submitted anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477).
WSBTV
