Solano Coroner: Heart Problem Triggered by Assault Killed Fairfield Grocer Tuesday Night

By Bay City News Service

The owner of a grocery store died of an irregular heartbeat triggered by the assault in his business Tuesday night, according to an autopsy performed Wednesday.

Solano County coroner's Deputy Ray Lamb said Ho Jun Kim, 70, the owner of the Travis Dairy at 140 E. Travis Blvd., died of "cardiac arrhythmia due to emotional distress caused by an assault."

"He had a bad heart and had surgery before," Lamb said. Fairfield police Lt. Greg Hurlbut said Kim called police around 7:50 p.m. Tuesday to report he had been robbed and needed an ambulance.

Three suspects pepper-sprayed Kim and left the minimart with a  cash register and a video camera Kim used to record his daily business activities, Hurlbut said.

A witness said three black males in their late teens went into the business but Kim said the suspects were white, Hurlbut said. The suspects were driving a light brown or tan late model Honda,  Hurlbut said.

Kim was taken to the NorthBay Medical Center in Vacaville, where he died at 8:36 p.m., the coroner's office said. Police are investigating other robberies where pepper spray was used, Hurlbut said.