For Lee's family
Donation protected
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/police-investigate-shooting-at-duluth-shopping-center
Dear Friends,
Just a few days after the new years began on 01/07/19, my best friend (Yoonjeong Yang) and her sister had to go through a horrific tragedy.
My friend and I have known each other for six years, and as time passed by, not only we have gotten closer but also our family grew closer together. And they have begun to share more about their stepfather.
The stepdad, my friend's mom, my friend, and her sister lived together for about 15 years, both when they used to live back in Korea and when they immigrated to the United States. And I have personally known him for about four years. When my friend described her stepdad, he was a completely different person from who I knew. From what I heard, he was a two-faced person. With others, he acted as if he cared much about his family, but in reality, he was a gambling addict who didn't care a thing about the family. On top of using all the money on gambling except for the very minimal living expenses, he consistently came to the hair salon the mom and her daughters ran, demanding money and threatening to hinder salon's operation if they didn't give him the money. The mom and her daughters didn't know much about the United States, and using it against them, he continued to torment them in ways like this. My friend's mother endured this for 15 years, and she finally decided to get a divorce as she didn't want this situation to continue any longer, nor did she wanted to continue to show her daughters such side of her.
They came to the final stages of divorce-- they had already signed the papers, were ordered to live separately and have no contact, and were waiting for the judge to approve and sign the judgment. But he continued to come to the salon to demand money and threaten to kill. Still feeling unsafe, the mother even filed the restraining order. Even though the mom and her daughters had lost everything they had earned so far due to his gambling, they made the new year's resolution to start new, work diligently, and be happier. Unfortunately, this resolution could not last even a week.
What my friend's mom suffered from the most was that she did her best to find a way to avoid harm, but she could not. She had held her wishes to get a divorce despite continuous threats and suffering because she didn't want her daughters to grow up without a dad. She endured and endured, and when she finally decided to get divorced, it was a big decision for her. She trusted his words that he would get a divorce if she gave him 20k, so even though she has nearly nothing left on her, she got a loan and gave him 20k in front of the lawyer.
She gallantly told her daughters that all the bad days are now over and only good things will happen to them, and not even a week past the new years, the stepdad came to the salon and shot her several times and killed her in front of the older daughter's own eyes. She hid in the room, locked the door and called 911, crying in fear, and he came to the door to kill her as well. He attempted but could not open the door, so he shot the door several times to kill her. When the police arrived, he was suffering from a wound that seemed self-inflicted gunshot, was transferred to a hospital where he died.
On top of witnessing the death of her mother that unfolded in front of her eyes and being almost killed, the older daughter is under unbearable psychological stress and trauma. Yet due to all the paperwork that must be done for her mom and stepdad-- just because she technically still is the stepdaughter on paper-- and the need to find a way of living, she is enduring all the workload, not yet having a chance to grieve properly.
Because the business was not doing too well, the daughters helped around the salon to avoid any unnecessary costs, and the mom used to handle all the finances. With their mother's unexpected death, without even being able to grieve properly, they now face a heavy financial burden with the cost of getting all the legalistic things done, the funeral that needs to be paid very soon, and next month payment of where they are living now. We do not know how long this pain will last, and we do not know how long it will be until we don't need the help of the lawyer to be back to our normal life cycle. In this horrific situation with much loss and small finance and fearful future, I pray that these words that I write will help them be better off and that you will help them.
Another reason why I write is to reveal how cruel, heartless, and coward he was, to reveal his true side, and to let people know how unfair was my friend's mother's death.
My friend's mother was always bright and loved deeply those who were important to her. She always greeted me with a smile, and she treated me as if I was one of her own daughters. When I heard the news, my heart was torn, and I still can't believe this happened. According to her will that she let her daughters know before anything happened, the daughters donated her organs. My friend's sister who was at the scene is mentally and physically suffering due to the guilt of how helpless she was for her mother's death. She is unable to eat nor sleep but still fighting through the situation, and it is so heartbreaking.
Because of one person, my friend lost her mother and someone who she can depend on. The future that was thought to be bright and well planned is now unclear. My friend is looking for the cheapest funeral, but I want her mom to go comfortably and peacefully. Any amount will be a big help to my friend and her sister. I pray that many will come support and help. Thank you for all those who participate in this fundraiser, and thank you for reading.
Dear Friends,
Just a few days after the new years began on 01/07/19, my best friend (Yoonjeong Yang) and her sister had to go through a horrific tragedy.
My friend and I have known each other for six years, and as time passed by, not only we have gotten closer but also our family grew closer together. And they have begun to share more about their stepfather.
The stepdad, my friend's mom, my friend, and her sister lived together for about 15 years, both when they used to live back in Korea and when they immigrated to the United States. And I have personally known him for about four years. When my friend described her stepdad, he was a completely different person from who I knew. From what I heard, he was a two-faced person. With others, he acted as if he cared much about his family, but in reality, he was a gambling addict who didn't care a thing about the family. On top of using all the money on gambling except for the very minimal living expenses, he consistently came to the hair salon the mom and her daughters ran, demanding money and threatening to hinder salon's operation if they didn't give him the money. The mom and her daughters didn't know much about the United States, and using it against them, he continued to torment them in ways like this. My friend's mother endured this for 15 years, and she finally decided to get a divorce as she didn't want this situation to continue any longer, nor did she wanted to continue to show her daughters such side of her.
They came to the final stages of divorce-- they had already signed the papers, were ordered to live separately and have no contact, and were waiting for the judge to approve and sign the judgment. But he continued to come to the salon to demand money and threaten to kill. Still feeling unsafe, the mother even filed the restraining order. Even though the mom and her daughters had lost everything they had earned so far due to his gambling, they made the new year's resolution to start new, work diligently, and be happier. Unfortunately, this resolution could not last even a week.
What my friend's mom suffered from the most was that she did her best to find a way to avoid harm, but she could not. She had held her wishes to get a divorce despite continuous threats and suffering because she didn't want her daughters to grow up without a dad. She endured and endured, and when she finally decided to get divorced, it was a big decision for her. She trusted his words that he would get a divorce if she gave him 20k, so even though she has nearly nothing left on her, she got a loan and gave him 20k in front of the lawyer.
She gallantly told her daughters that all the bad days are now over and only good things will happen to them, and not even a week past the new years, the stepdad came to the salon and shot her several times and killed her in front of the older daughter's own eyes. She hid in the room, locked the door and called 911, crying in fear, and he came to the door to kill her as well. He attempted but could not open the door, so he shot the door several times to kill her. When the police arrived, he was suffering from a wound that seemed self-inflicted gunshot, was transferred to a hospital where he died.
On top of witnessing the death of her mother that unfolded in front of her eyes and being almost killed, the older daughter is under unbearable psychological stress and trauma. Yet due to all the paperwork that must be done for her mom and stepdad-- just because she technically still is the stepdaughter on paper-- and the need to find a way of living, she is enduring all the workload, not yet having a chance to grieve properly.
Because the business was not doing too well, the daughters helped around the salon to avoid any unnecessary costs, and the mom used to handle all the finances. With their mother's unexpected death, without even being able to grieve properly, they now face a heavy financial burden with the cost of getting all the legalistic things done, the funeral that needs to be paid very soon, and next month payment of where they are living now. We do not know how long this pain will last, and we do not know how long it will be until we don't need the help of the lawyer to be back to our normal life cycle. In this horrific situation with much loss and small finance and fearful future, I pray that these words that I write will help them be better off and that you will help them.
Another reason why I write is to reveal how cruel, heartless, and coward he was, to reveal his true side, and to let people know how unfair was my friend's mother's death.
My friend's mother was always bright and loved deeply those who were important to her. She always greeted me with a smile, and she treated me as if I was one of her own daughters. When I heard the news, my heart was torn, and I still can't believe this happened. According to her will that she let her daughters know before anything happened, the daughters donated her organs. My friend's sister who was at the scene is mentally and physically suffering due to the guilt of how helpless she was for her mother's death. She is unable to eat nor sleep but still fighting through the situation, and it is so heartbreaking.
Because of one person, my friend lost her mother and someone who she can depend on. The future that was thought to be bright and well planned is now unclear. My friend is looking for the cheapest funeral, but I want her mom to go comfortably and peacefully. Any amount will be a big help to my friend and her sister. I pray that many will come support and help. Thank you for all those who participate in this fundraiser, and thank you for reading.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sophia Yang
Organizer
Buford, GA
Yoonjeong Yang
Beneficiary
