SAN JOSE, CA – A 31-year-old fugitive wanted for his alleged role in two separate California murders has been captured in Laos and returned to the United States to face prosecution.
The extradition marks the first-ever return of a wanted fugitive from Laos to the U.S., according to local prosecutors.
The Fugitive’s Arrest
Myung Jin Kim, 31, was taken into custody by Laotian authorities in late May 2026 for using fraudulent travel documents. He was flown back to Los Angeles International Airport on June 9, booked briefly at the Anaheim Police Department jail, and transferred to Santa Clara County on June 10.
The Crimes: 2016 and 2018 Murders
Investigators say Kim has been on the run for years in connection with two distinct violent incidents:
- The 2016 San Jose Murder: On June 27, 2016, Kim allegedly orchestrated a botched ambush shooting in San Jose. Suspects lay in wait and fatally shot a man in his vehicle. Prosecutors later revealed that the victim was the wrong man and not the intended target.
- The 2018 Westminster Murder: On September 5, 2018, Kim reportedly shot and killed his friend, 26-year-old Christopher Kim, in a CVS parking lot in Westminster following a dispute over money. He allegedly shot the victim six times in front of the victim’s girlfriend before fleeing.
International manhunt Ends
Kim remained in hiding until December 2025, when U.S. investigators tracked him to Southeast Asia. A massive collaborative effort involving the FBI, U.S. Marshals, the U.S. Department of State, and Laotian law enforcement led to his eventual capture.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer praised the joint operation, stating, “Justice knows no borders and we will go to the literal ends of the earth in the pursuit of justice.”
Legal Proceedings Ahead
Kim will be prosecuted in Santa Clara County first for the 2016 ambush killing. Following those proceedings, he will be transferred to Orange County to face murder charges for the 2018 shooting, alongside prior charges of drug dealing and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
