Reston resident, Hyung Joon Choi, was shot dead while working out at Gold’s Gym on Tuesday, August 20th. The 43-year-old suspect, Steve Taehee Ha, left his home address and name at the front desk when he signed in as a guest at Gold’s Gym that day, which aided police in tracking him down. 

Taehee Ha was arrested 8 hours after the shooting and is currently in custody at Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, facing charges of Second Degree Murder and use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. The shooting was said to be an “isolated, targeted incident,” according to the police. The connection between Choi and Taehee Ha, along with the motive, is still unknown. 

The two were both working out when the suspect approached Choi, taking up a targeting stance and shooting him in the upper body.  A bystander, Kevin Campbell, was working out a few feet away when the shooting occurred. Campbell ran over Choi, wrapping his tank top around Choi with pressure to slow the bleeding. Campbell made the initial call to 911 and waited with Choi until their arrival, a few minutes later. After the shooting, Taehee Ha fled on foot carrying a shoulder bag and was pursued by K9 units as well as a helicopter search. 31-year-old Choi was taken to the hospital, where he died. 

At South Lakes, an announcement went over the intercom at the normal dismissal time of 2:55, notifying students and teachers of a “delayed dismissal.” The delayed dismissal only lasted a few minutes before students were released, but it still affected the school. 

“I know it impacted a lot of my friend’s bus routes.” Charlotte Arehart, a sophomore at South Lakes, said. Buses that pass through the area of the shooting had to be rerouted, extending the time to get students home. 

Many students were also concerned by the nonchalant attitude after the incident. 

“It’s kind of sad that I wasn’t very scared by it because it shouldn’t be normalized, but it is,” Arehart said. 

Sophomore, Morgan Church, has a family member with a membership to Gold’s Gym. She mentioned that she was “scared, for sure” by the idea that he could have been there at the time. 

Detectives are still investigating the motive for the attack; However, the police are confident the shooting was targeted and Gold’s Gym members will be safe at the gym.