Dallas Asian community advocate ID’d as driver shot to death after Fort Worth car accident
A Dallas man has been identified as the driver who was shot to death early Monday on South University Drive in Fort Worth after being involved in a minor traffic accident, authorities said Wednesday.
The man was identified as Chin Il Shin, 43, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office website. A GoFundMe page and friends identified him as Jin Shin.
The Dallas man, a native of South Korea, was known for his help in the community, friends said, pointing out that just three months ago, he started a GoFundMe to help victims of a racially motivated nail salon shooting in Dallas.
“As if there weren’t already unique traits with him, he’s one of the most altruistic guys,” said his friend David Van in a Wednesday email. “When he found out one of his employees had a medical issue, he immediately enrolled everyone into a medical plan to get them cared for.”
Shin died from gunshot wounds to his torso and his death was ruled a homicide.
Fort Worth police said that no one has been arrested in the case but that they have identified and interviewed the shooter. Authorities have not determined whether they will file charges.
Police responded to the wreck at about 2:30 a.m. Monday on southbound South University Drive at the westbound Interstate 30 entrance ramp.
Police said the crash involved a Jeep, driven by Shin, and a sedan, carrying a driver and two passengers. Shin’s family said in a social media post that three women were in the other vehicle involved in the crash.
At some point after the crash, someone in the sedan called at least one person to the scene to help be a “peacemaker,” police said. That “peacemaker” was a man, a Shin family member said.
A verbal argument turned physical and ended with Shin being shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fort Worth police have not said who shot Shin and have not released any other information on the crash or the investigation.
“Jin Shin was a fantastic human being,” wrote Van and two others on Shin’s GoFundMe account. “I use the word fantastic, because not only was it his favorite adjective to use, but it is also the best word to describe him.
Born in South Korea, Shin immigrated to the United States when he was young in 1983. He lived in Louisiana, North Carolina, and Garland, Texas, graduating from Berkner High School.
He later joined the U.S. Marine Corps and earned a business degree.
“He has been a long time pillar in the Dallas service industry,” according to the GoFundMe page. “There are numerous news articles about his altruistic work and involvement within the community.”
Shin recently began to run his family business at Family Karaoke.
“Jin’s character can be described as loving, caring, sincere, friendly, inviting, humorous, giving, joyful, loyal, and as mentioned before, FANTASTIC.,” Van wrote on the GoFundMe account. “He had a knack for singing and Chewbacca calls. He would laugh knowing that’s how he is described on his biography.”
He is survived by his parents, his two younger sisters, his 14-year-old daughter, his girlfriend Chi, and the many friends he considered family.
The GoFundMe account was established to help the family with the funeral cost and legal fees.
“Jin’s death was too early and wrong,” wrote Kerri Shin on her Facebook to her older brother. “I know he is sorely missed by many.”
