Leaders in North Texas’ Korean American community are calling for unity and healing after a shooting in Carrollton’s Koreatown left two people dead and three others injured.
Community organizations gathered Wednesday at the Korean Cultural Center of Dallas to honor the victims, placing flowers at a memorial and offering condolences to grieving families.
“The North Texas Korean American community stands united in deep sadness,” community leaders said in a joint statement. “We urge everyone to remain calm, avoid spreading rumors, and support one another…We stand strong together, as we have faced and overcome challenges before.”
Community leaders said the violence, which unfolded Tuesday morning at K-Towne Plaza, stemmed from a targeted business dispute and was not a hate crime or a random act, echoing statements from Carrollton police.
“As confirmed by Carrollton police, this was an isolated incident stemming from a personal business issue, not a random act of violence. We ask everyone to avoid spreading rumors that create unnecessary tension,” said Sung Chul Woo, Korean Society of Dallas president.
Authorities said the shooting began around 10 a.m. Tuesday, during a business meeting involving business owners, a property manager, and real estate agents. At some point, gunfire erupted, leaving four people shot, including one who later died.
Police said a second deadly shooting occurred about an hour later at a nearby apartment, where a man was found dead from a gunshot wound. About an hour after that, officers arrested the suspect, identified as 69-year-old Soon Ho Han, following a brief foot chase.
The Korean Society of Dallas held a news conference Wednesday morning after a shooting in a shopping mall killed 2 people and injured 3 more on Tuesday.
Investigators have not released details about a motive but said the shootings appear connected. Han remains in jail as police continue to investigate what led to the violence.
Community leaders declined to release the names of the victims out of respect for their families, but confirmed that two were active members of the local Korean American chamber of commerce organization.
The impact has rippled through the region’s tightly connected Korean American population, estimated at roughly 150,000 people.
“We all know each other. We all know their families and their kids,” said Sung Chul Woo, president of the Korean Society of Dallas. “It impacts a lot of us because many personally knew the victims — and even the suspect. It is very shocking.”
Leaders emphasized the importance of coming together to grieve and support one another.
Officials also sought to reassure the public that businesses in the area have reopened and encouraged continued support for local establishments.
Community groups said they are organizing a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and provide assistance for the victims’ families.
“The fact of the matter is, we are all mourning,” said John Jun of the Korean American Coalition’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter. “We ask the community to come together, pray for the victims, and work toward ensuring something like this doesn’t happen again. Not just here, but in all communities.”