Siblings charged with murder in deadly attempted carjacking of man in Cerritos
Two siblings were arrested and charged with murder for a deadly shooting during an attempted carjacking in Cerritos.
The suspects were identified as John Chong Moon, 54, and Cindy Kim, 58, both of La Palma, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
On Feb. 25, the victim, Cuauhtemoc Garcia, 66, was exiting his car to take an afternoon walk along the Coyote Creek Bike Path near Don Knabe Park in Cerritos at around 12:30 p.m.
That's when the suspects allegedly approached Garcia and attempted to steal his car, authorities said.
When Garcia refused to hand over his car keys, Moon and Kim allegedly shot and killed him. They fled the scene before authorities arrived.
The L.A. County Sheriff's Department was able to identify the suspects through a video posted on TikTok that showed the siblings.
On March 10, the siblings were located by officers from the Fullerton and Anaheim Police Departments. At the time, they refused to surrender and led police on a pursuit before they were eventually stopped and taken into custody.
'This was a senseless and brutal act of violence that took the life of a husband, father and businessman who simply wanted to enjoy a peaceful walk,' said L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman. 'My sympathies go out to his family as they grieve this unimaginable loss.'
On March 12, the DA's office announced Moon and Kim were both charged with one count of murder and one count of attempted second-degree robbery.
If convicted on all charges, both could face life in prison. An arraignment hearing took place on Wednesday at the Bellflower Courthouse.
'We will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law to hold those responsible accountable,' Hochman said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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