Prosecutors say a Cerritos brother and sister shot and killed a local businessman so they could steal his SUV, then turned their attention to relatives in a simmering dispute over a La Palma home. Cuauhtémoc Garcia, 66, was gunned down while walking along the Coyote Creek bike path on Feb. 25, 2025, according to authorities. The allegations surfaced in recent court proceedings and added new detail to an investigation that ended with the pair’s arrests after a short police pursuit.
Notebooks and a plan
At a May preliminary hearing, prosecutors unveiled notebooks seized from the defendants that they say lay out long‑running grievances and explicit plans for violence. One entry highlighted in court read, "we are supposed to order our firearm to take down the goldsteins," while other notes told the pair to "get our 'last bastion' of wealth … by any means necessary," according to testimony. As reported by the Long Beach Press‑Telegram, the notebooks took center stage in the hearing.
What happened along the trail
Prosecutors say Garcia parked his Toyota 4Runner behind 13121 Briarwood Street, near Don Knabe Community Regional Park, on Feb. 25, 2025, then headed out on his regular walk along the Coyote Creek bike path. The siblings allegedly confronted him along the trail and demanded his keys. When Garcia refused, authorities say they opened fire and fled. Those details, along with the formal murder and robbery filings, were laid out by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
How investigators tracked the suspects
Investigators say a viral TikTok clip showing the two in the days before the shooting helped them identify the suspects, according to CBS Los Angeles. Fullerton officers later spotted a silver Prius linked to the pair, and a brief pursuit ended in Anaheim on March 10, 2025, where both were taken into custody. Hoodline’s earlier coverage captured the community’s reaction after the March arrests; Brother and Sister Arrested chronicled the initial roundup.
Prosecutors' evidence
In court, prosecutors said detectives found Garcia’s keys zipped inside the lining of his shorts and recovered about half a dozen notebooks among the suspects’ belongings. After the arrests, investigators also located a 9mm handgun in the trunk of the Prius. Nine shell casings were collected at the trail, and a criminalist testified that test‑firing linked the gun to the shooting.
Prosecutors further alleged that in recorded jail conversations, one defendant admitted he "killed an innocent guy, that it was over his SUV," according to a hearing account by the Long Beach Press‑Telegram.
Charges and potential penalties
John Chong Uk Moon and Cindy Kim have been charged with murder and attempted second‑degree robbery in case number 25BFCF00178. Prosecutors recommended bail of $3 million for Moon and $2 million for Kim. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says that if convicted, the siblings could face life in state prison. The case is being prosecuted out of the Bellflower branch. The charges remain allegations, and both defendants are presumed innocent as the legal process continues.
Family reaction and local impact
Garcia’s family has called for justice, describing him as a devoted husband and father who took daily walks at the park. Neighbors and regular users of the Coyote Creek trail told reporters they are rattled by a daylight killing on a popular route and worried about their safety. FOX 11 recorded the family’s plea and the community’s reaction.
What’s next
Prosecutors say they intend to lean on the notebooks, physical evidence, and recorded statements introduced at the preliminary hearing as both sides prepare for future court dates. If the case moves to trial, those items are expected to be central pieces of the prosecution’s argument. For residents, the case is a stark reminder of how quickly a routine walk can turn deadly and how social media can accelerate a criminal investigation. The case remains pending in Los Angeles County courts as attorneys on both sides get ready for the next round.
