A Jacksonville man is now facing felony charges in a 2024 hit-and-run that killed the longtime owner of a southside beauty supply store, bringing a grim chapter in local retail crime one step closer to court. Police say the case dates back to Dec. 6, 2024, when 64-year-old Ilson Miriam Kim chased suspected shoplifters out of her Beauty Max store in the Kernan Village shopping plaza and was struck by the getaway vehicle. Neighbors and relatives remember Kim as the small-business owner who kept the shop going for years.
According to News4JAX, 47-year-old Darrell Beauford was arrested last Wednesday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, which is a first-degree felony, and driving while his license was suspended, a third-degree felony. Patrol officers initially stopped Beauford during a traffic stop and took him to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for an interview. The arrest report states he eventually admitted he was behind the wheel when Kim was hit.
Investigators say the confrontation started when two people walked into Beauty Max and one bolted from the store with five wigs valued at $289, as reported by Action News Jax. Video and witness interviews later identified David Pulliam Jr. and Tashina Dobbins as suspects. Pulliam admitted on April 10, 2025, that he ran from the store and jumped into the vehicle. Detectives also interviewed Dobbins, who court records show pleaded guilty to related theft charges, then failed to show up for sentencing.
How Investigators Traced A Phone Back To The Driver
As detailed by News4JAX, detectives leaned hard on surveillance video and digital records to fill in the gaps. Using footage from nearby stores and a subpoena to the messaging app TextNow, investigators tied a phone number provided by Dobbins to Beauford on Jan. 20, 2026. A review of camera footage also placed a man identified as Karron Steadman-Jones at the vehicle the day before the crash, and tips to First Coast Crime Stoppers helped narrow the list of suspects.
During his interview with police, Beauford told officers he pushed Kim away from the vehicle and shifted into reverse before leaving the scene. He later acknowledged his front tire made contact with something as he drove off, according to the arrest report.
Surveillance, Witnesses And A Community On Edge
Local coverage at the time noted that surveillance video showed Kim lying on the ground while bystanders rushed to help, and that cameras around the shopping center were critical in piecing together what happened, according to Jacksonville Today. Family members and community groups including Mad Dads and First Coast Crime Stoppers publicly pleaded for tips after Kim’s death, turning the case into one of the city’s more talked-about homicides tied to repeat shoplifting at small retailers.
Store owners in the Kernan Village plaza told reporters that thefts had been an ongoing problem, and Kim’s death underscored how a grab-and-run over a few wigs can escalate into a deadly encounter that ripples across an entire neighborhood.
What Comes Next In Court
Beauford now faces felony charges in Duval County, and the case will move through the local court system. Police records referenced in the arrest report state that he has multiple prior incidents of driving with a suspended license dating back to 2004 and that his license was suspended for failure to pay child support at the time of the crash.
Court dates and bond information were not immediately available, and authorities say the investigation remains active.
