June 13, 2026
A suspect wanted in connection with two murders in California has been brought back to the US after nearly a decade on the run in Laos, more than 8,000 miles from California.
According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Myung Jin Kim, 31, was arrested in Laos in May and extradited to Los Angeles on June 11 to face multiple murder charges.
Investigators believe Kim was behind a murder-for-hire plot to kill a man in San Jose in 2016. However, the plan reportedly went wrong when the shooter mistakenly killed the wrong victim.
Following the investigation, police determined the incident showed signs of a premeditated murder and issued an arrest warrant for Kim. However, the suspect disappeared before authorities could apprehend him.
Two years later, while out on bail in Orange County for a drug-related case, Kim was allegedly involved in another murder.
Prosecutors stated that Kim fatally shot his friend, Christian Kim, outside a CVS store in Westminster in 2018 following a money dispute. The victim was shot multiple times before the suspect fled the scene.
As the investigation expanded, law enforcement agencies linked Kim to both cases, leading to charges including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and attempted murder.
The multi-year manhunt concluded in December 2025 when authorities located Kim in Laos. Following coordination among multiple international law enforcement agencies, Kim was arrested in May 2026 for using fraudulent travel documents.
On June 9, Kim was returned to the US to face criminal charges.
Patrick Grandy, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office, stated:
"Kim’s violent actions are finally catching up to him, even though he ran halfway around the world."
San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph said investigators never gave up on the case and pursued the suspect for many years.
Kim is currently being held in Santa Clara County to address charges related to the San Jose case before being transferred to Orange County to face additional charges.
Officials stated that this is the first time a wanted suspect has been extradited from Laos to the US.
