Violence and tragedy hit the United Methodist family on Independence Day in the U.S.A. Won-Joon Yoon, a 26-year-old member of the Bloomington, Indiana, Korean United Methodist Church was shot and killed as he and a friend were standing in front of the church waiting for the start of Sunday service.

Police officials have not yet categorized as a hate crime the two day shooting spree in which 21-year-old Benjamin Smith allegedly killed two people and injured at least seven. The first victim was Ricky Byrdsong, a former basketball coach at Northwestern University and an African American. Those who were injured include six Orthodox Jews, who were walking home from Sabbath services, and two Asian Americans walking down a street.

Several church members saw the gunman sitting in his car in front of the church entrance before he shot Yoon. From that vantage point, he would have clearly known that the church has an Asian ethnic congregation.

While authorities are looking to find a motive for the shooter, Pacifica Radio has reported that Benjamin Smith was known for his racist views. A Minnesota anti-racist action group had identified him as someone who needed to be watched, and communities were alerted to his active participation in the Church of the Creator, which espouses white supremacy.

Won-Joon Yoon came to the U.S. from Seoul, South Korea, to receive his higher education. Upon completing his master's degree in economics at the University of Southern Illinois, he moved to Bloomington just five weeks ago to prepare for beginning work on his doctoral degree at Indiana University.

Yoon had already become an active member of the Korean United Methodist Church there. "For me, the fact that he was already active in the church is a sign of his grounding and his understanding about life, which was being shaped by this congregation," said Dr. Randolph Nugent, General Secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church. In just these few weeks, Yoon had already participated in young adult fellowship, evangelism activities, and class meetings.

The day before the shooting, Yoon had spoken by phone to his family in Seoul, sending his love in what would be his last conversation with them. Included in the call were his 90-year-old grandmother and every other member of the family.

Yoon's parents were told of their only son's death at two in the morning, Seoul time. Mr. Yoon blamed himself in that he had urged his son to stay in the U.S. for the summer to get settled in the Bloomington area so that he could focus on his academics in the fall.

According to Yonhap Korean News Agency, Mr. Yoon told of his son's kind heart and said that he brought home friends who were less fortunate. "I wonder why God summoned him so early," said the grieving father.

The Reverend Byung Chill Hahn, pastor of the Bloomington Korean United Methodist Church, was inside the church preparing for worship, when he heard the shots. He thought they were firecrackers for the 4th of July holiday.

By the time he went outside, a crowd was gathered near Yoon's motionless body. "We all prayed together," he said. It was later during the morning service that they received the news that Yoon had not survived. "Our church is shocked," said Rev. Hahn, who has been with the Yoon family since their arrival in Bloomington on Monday. "Why don't we treat each other like God's children? There's no reason to hate each other."

Dr. Nugent added, "His death, like the death of so many other persons, which came at the hand of someone filled with hate, is a sign to all of us that we must work harder to bring the kind of acceptance that Jesus represented in the world. Should we fail," warned Nugent, "Yoon's death is a harbinger of what yet may be to come."

There will be two services for Won-Joon Yoon:

Funeral Service:

Thursday, July 8, 1999, at 10:00 am
Korean United Methodist Church
1924 East Third Street
Bloomington, Indiana

Interdenominational Memorial Service:

Monday, July 12, 1999, at 7:00 pm
Indiana University
Music Arts Center
Bloomington, Indiana

Expressions of sympathy and remembrances can be sent to:

The Family of Won-Joon Yoon
Korean United Methodist Church
1924 East Third Street
Bloomington, IN 47401

Information for this story was provided by Bloomington Herald Times, International Herald Tribune (Paris), Mrs. Byung Chill Hahn, The New York Times, WBAI-FM/Pacifica Radio, Yonhap Korean News Agency.