Tacoma teen was accused of aggravated murder in corner store robbery. Here’s the verdict
A Tacoma man has been found guilty in a jury trial of first-degree murder and other offenses for fatally shooting the owner of a corner store while trying to rob the business of vape and tobacco products.
The jury declined Monday to return a verdict on the most serious charge Angel Anthony Mendez faced, aggravated first-degree murder, leading to a mistrial on that count. Mendez was 19 when he shot 60-year-old Seok Park, and if he had been convicted of that offense, prosecutors would have had the option of arguing that he should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In addition to murder, jurors found Mendez guilty of first-degree attempted robbery, three counts of second-degree assault and first-degree robbery. Two of the assault charges and the first-degree robbery offense stemmed from another armed robbery of a convenience store Mendez committed, allegedly with a co-defendant, the day after Mendez shot and killed Park.
Mendez, now 20, will face a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced before Superior Court Judge Timothy Ashcraft on April 25. First-degree murder has a minimum standard range sentence of 20 years in prison, and jurors returned several special verdicts finding that he was armed with a firearm or a deadly weapon while he carried out the crimes.
A spokesperson for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Adam Faber, said Tuesday that the firearm enhancements would add about 19-21 years to the defendant’s sentence, and the standard sentencing range Mendez will face will be around 40 years. Faber said prosecutors will recommend a mid-to-high range punishment based on the severity of the crimes and that the day after the murder, Mendez went “right back out to commit another robbery” and fired a weapon at two more people.
Mendez, according to Pierce County prosecutors, fired a fatal shot into Park’s chest after trying to rob The Little Store in the 3500 block of South Ainsworth. Surveillance from the shop showed Park had his hands raised in surrender and started to get on his knees when he was shot.
“On the morning of October 3rd, 2023, Seok Park, also known as Charlie Park, was a person with a freedom of choices,” prosecuting attorney Gregory Thomsen said during closing arguments March 13. “[Park] did not have the freedom of choice for one very important thing, whether he was going to live or die.”
A day later, Mendez and Juan Manuel Calvario were armed when they robbed another area store. Prosecutors say Mendez was allegedly targeting vape and tobacco products during both incidents. Calvario allegedly stole around $2,000 worth of those products from the second store.
Calvario is being held at Remann Hall on two counts of first-degree assault and first-degree robbery, records show. A Superior Court judge ordered Calvario to undergo a competency evaluation.
Prosecutors say Mendez pointed a gun at an employee of the second store as the robbery took place. A man and woman who were inside the market followed Mendez and Calvario after the robbery, telling them to stop. When they were in their vehicle, prosecutors allege, Mendez fired shots at them, striking the car, but not hitting anyone.
Thomsen went through every charge that Mendez was accused of, beginning with first-degree murder for Park’s death and ending with the alleged assaults outside the second store. Thomsen reiterated the evidence that was presented throughout the trial, which prosecutors believe proves “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Mendez is guilty of the charges.
Thomsen showed the jury a black hoodie, a gun, a blue face mask and the shoes that Mendez allegedly had during the killing, the robbery of the second store and when he was arrested. Surveillance from the both stores allegedly showed someone with a similar build as Mendez wearing the hoodie and mask, he said.
The gun used in both incidents was the same and found on Mendez’s person during his arrest, prosecutors say.
Deputy prosecuting attorney Kelly Montgomery said during closings that Mendez “basically left breadcrumbs” from the Oct. 3 to Oct. 4 incidents, leading up to his arrest.
Thomsen argued Mendez had the intention to kill Park, evidenced by his actions shown on the market’s surveillance footage.
“He pointed at [Park’s] chest, not leg or ground, and pulled the trigger,” he said.
Mendez’s defense attorney, Travis Currie, told the jury during closings that its job is to “decide if the state proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.” Currie told the jury not to base its decision on sympathy or emotions.
One piece of evidence prosecutors provided was fingerprints found on garbage bags from The Little Store that matched Mendez’s prints. Currie said Mendez’s fingerprints were only found on the garbage bags at The Little Store, which he says are movable. He also argued the Costco brand of the garbage bags are very common.
A ballistics expert for prosecutors took the stand during trial and said the shell casings from The Little Store and the second store came from the same gun. Currie argued it was only the expert’s opinion the shell casings came from the same gun and said there wasn’t a specific measurement provided to say the casings matched.
Currie said witness descriptions of the incidents were inconsistent. He argued the victims inside the car at the second store only heard who shot at them but did not see anyone.
He told the jury that premeditation has to be a “deliberate killing” and that no one knows what the alleged shooter was thinking before firing at Park.
Park, who went by Charlie, was a beloved member of the community. Many people left flowers and candles outside the store the day after the homicide, according to a previous News Tribune story.
“The Little Store was more than just a convenience store; it was a hub of warmth and connection in our community. Charlie knew each neighbor by name, what they liked to buy, and always had a kind word or a listening ear,” according to a GoFundMe that was created to support Park’s family after his death.
This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 1:44 PM.
