Court Documents Reveal More On Shooting That Followed Retail Theft

A Bristol Township woman has been charged in an incident that involved a store owner being struck by a car and another firing a gun.

Roniqua Rankins, 19, was arraigned recently on three counts of robbery, and single counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, aggravated assault, retail theft, and receiving stolen property.

Several juveniles were also linked to the incident, but it was not immediately clear if they were charged.

According to court papers, on the mid-morning of Friday, September 20, Bristol Township officers were called to the parking lot of Bristol Plaza on Durham Road near the intersection of Veterans Highway (Route 413) and Bath Road for a report of shots fired and a struck pedestrian outside Gold Star Hair and Wig, a beauty and cosmetics store owned by the local Moon family.

Officers said they arrived to find Ki Moon, one of the store owners, on the ground in front of a Hyundai Sonata. Her husband was standing nearby along with Rankins and three teenagers.

A photo that circulated on social media and was first sent to this news organization shortly after the incident shows Ki Moon on the ground next to a car. LevittownNow.com initially reported on the crime in late September.

Young Moon, Ki’s husband and one of the owner’s of the small business, told police that the group of young women entered the store and stole items before they ran from the store, court papers stated.

Security footage from inside the shop shows Rankins and two teens inside the store during the retail theft. The Moon’s then followed them outside after suspecting there was theft. Exterior Bristol Plaza camera footage shows the suspects fleeing the store and the Sonata moving as Ki Moon is knocked to the parking lot ground as she catches up on foot, police said.

An employee of the Auto Zone in the shopping center ran out to help Ki Moon and said the Sonata drifted three times toward her as she attempted to aid an injured Ki Moon, according to police.

Police said Young Moon ended up opening the door of the Sonata the women were in and attempted to place the vehicle in park.

Another witness corroborated the Auto Zone employee’s comments to investigators, police said.

Sources told LevittownNow.com that at some point Young Moon fired a shot in what was claimed to be self-defense during the incident. No one was struck by the bullet.

Bill Goldman, who represents the Moon family, confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Young Moon fired the shot and said the district attorney’s office has cleared the business owner of wrongdoing.

The girl who was allegedly behind the wheel of the car said she was 15 years old.

Police said they recovered more than $150 in merchandise stolen from Gold Star Hair and Wig in the parking lot near the Sonata.

Ki Moon suffered multiple fractures to her spine and has been unable to work due to her movement being severely restricted. She also has to wear a back brace, police said.

“[The Moons] have cooperated with the DA’s Office and detectives,” Goldman said. “We are very pleased that the responsible individuals will be brought to justice.”

Young and Ki Moon have operated the wig store for years and are the parents of Jae Sik Moon. Their son, a 21-year-old U.S. Army first sergeant, was killed on December 25, 2006 when an improvised explosive device detonated near the Humvee he was riding in during his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Rankins was released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

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