Elderly Handyman Sentenced In Deadly Rampage At Temecula Retreat
MURRIETA (CBS) — A campground handyman was sentenced Friday to 96 years to life in prison for a shooting rampage at a Temecula religious retreat that left one woman dead and her husband injured.
John Suchan Chong, 71, was convicted on Feb. 17 of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder, as well as gun and great bodily injury allegations.
Chuneyi "Scholastica" Yun, 58, was fatally shot at the Kkottongnae Korean Retreat just off state Route 79 in April 2009. She and her husband, Jonpil "Benedict" Yun, were held at gunpoint by Chong, who worked at the Korean Catholic retreat as a handyman.
Chong, a South Korean native, told authorities he attacked because "all the victims had not shown him the proper respect and had not properly treated the ... nuns at the camp."
After breaking into the Yun's bungalow and holding them at gunpoint, Chong shot the husband in the chest and the wife in the head, killing her.
Chong broke into the quarters of another couple, holding a gun to the woman's head as she prayed and firing, but he missed. The woman's husband attacked Chong and managed to beat him with a barbell until he relented. Chong was arrested moments later by sheriff's deputies.
Jonpil Yun recovered from his gunshot wound.
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