Police seek shoplifters who killed store owner as they fled

Police are still looking for whoever was involved in the death of a Jacksonville store owner who was hit and killed by shoplifters as she chased their getaway car in the parking lot. 

Ilson Kim, 64, died at about 6 p.m. Dec. 6 outside the Beauty Max store on Atlantic Boulevard.

Police say at least two shoplifters came into the store, then one ran out to a waiting car, which hit Kim as it fled.

Kim’s obituary describes her as a hardworking entrepreneur who independently owned the beauty store in the Kernan Village shopping plaza. 

Mad Dads on Monday became the latest victim support group, along with First Coast Crimestoppers, to ask for the public’s help to track the suspects in what police termed a hit and run, then a homicide.  

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Kim’s death became one of 57 homicides so far this year, according to Jacksonville Sheriff Office data. That number is actually down from 118 homicides during all of 2023.