A brother and sister charged with murder in the shooting of a 66-year-old man on a bicycle trail in the Coyote Creek Riverbed in Cerritos are scheduled to be arraigned Friday at the Bellflower Courthouse after having their originally scheduled hearing postponed.
John Chong Moon, 54, and Cindy Kim, 58, both of La Palma, are charged with one count each of murder and attempted second-degree robbery, court records show. Moon is also facing an allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death to Cuauhtemoc Garcia, according to the criminal complaint.
The suspects had been scheduled to be arraigned Thursday but their hearing was put off until Friday morning.
Prosecutors requested bail be set at $3 million for Moon and $2 million for Kim, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
If convicted as charged, both suspects could face a sentence of life in prison.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigators were able to identity the defendants through a video taken of the siblings posted on TikTok, the District Attorney’s Office reported. The two were detained by officers from the Fullerton and Anaheim police departments Monday following a chase, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Garcia was exiting his vehicle at about 12:30 p.m. Feb. 25 to take a walk along the Coyote Creek Bike Path, behind 13121 Briarwood St., near Don Knabe Park in Cerritos, when the defendants allegedly tried to steal his car, prosecutors said.
Garcia was shot when he did not hand over the car keys, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“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,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “My sympathies go out to his family as they grieve this unimaginable loss. We will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law to hold those responsible accountable.”
Anyone with additional information about the fatal shooting was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to lacrimestoppers.org.