Seok Chul Charlie Park was 60 and ran The Little Store at 3501 S. Ainsworth Ave., a neighborhood fixture described as a welcoming place and a playground for local children. On October 3, 2023, during an armed robbery, a masked man entered the store, brandished a handgun at a cashier and placed plastic bags on the counter. The cashier triggered an emergency button and left; the robber followed to the doorway. Park came out from a back room and, according to surveillance footage, stood at the counter with his hands raised. He was shot once in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Park’s wife, Chung Ran Choo, said the store was central to the family and community and described the depth of the family’s grief. An arrest in connection with the shooting was reported; other alleged related offenses at nearby stores have also been described. Does anyone who shopped at The Little Store or knew Charlie have memories or information that could add context to what happened that day?