A Seattle court has delivered a verdict in one of the city’s most high-profile criminal cases, finding Cordell Goosby not guilty by reason of insanity in the fatal shooting of Eina Kwon, a 34-year-old restaurant owner who was eight months pregnant, and her unborn child. The ruling, issued on March 20, 2026, means Goosby, 30 at the time of the attack, will be committed to a state psychiatric hospital instead of serving time in prison.
The incident occurred on June 13, 2023, at approximately 11:15 a.m. in Seattle’s bustling Belltown neighborhood. Eina Kwon and her husband, Sung Kwon, were driving their white Tesla near the intersection of 4th Street and Lenora Street, on their morning commute to open their restaurant, Aburiya Bento House. According to charging documents, there was no prior interaction between Goosby and the couple's vehicle. Prosecutors stated that Goosby allegedly sprinted toward the driver’s side window of their car with a gun raised. "In a short span of time, he fired a gun in the victim’s car window, striking the victims inside the car. After firing all the bullets he had in the gun into the victims’ car, he turned and ran from the scene," prosecutors wrote in court papers.
Eina Kwon was struck multiple times. Despite being rushed to surgery and undergoing an emergency delivery, both she and her baby girl succumbed to their injuries. Sung Kwon was shot in the arm but survived and was discharged from the hospital the following morning. Goosby did not flee far from the scene and was arrested shortly after the shooting, immediately confessing to officers by stating, "I did it! I did it!" He later claimed to police that he had seen a gun in the couple's car, a claim that video evidence of the incident appears to contradict. No motive for the random attack has ever been determined, as Goosby had no known connection to the Kwons.
Further investigation revealed that Goosby was a convicted felon from Chicago, legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his prior criminal record in Illinois. Authorities confirmed that he reportedly used a stolen gun in the shooting, which was later found nearby.
Throughout the subsequent court proceedings, discussions heavily focused on Goosby's psychological evaluations and his history of hard drug use. Lawyers initially debated his competency to stand trial, a legal standard that assesses a defendant's ability to understand the charges against them and assist in their own defense. Goosby was eventually found competent to stand trial. However, the insanity plea, a distinct legal defense, addresses the defendant’s mental state at the precise time the crime was committed.
In a pivotal development, experts from both the defense and prosecution agreed on the insanity plea. The King County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that if their expert had reached a different conclusion, the case could have proceeded to a jury trial. However, the prosecution's expert ultimately concluded that Goosby was "insane at the time of the shooting."
Under King County law, a "not guilty by reason of insanity" ruling signifies that the defendant "admits that he committed the crimes and agrees to commitment in a state psychiatric hospital." This commitment is not a release to the community; rather, it mandates confinement in a secure psychiatric facility. Prosecutors clarified that state law does not permit a homicide charge for an unborn child unless the child was born alive. They also noted insufficient evidence to file a manslaughter charge, as there was no indication Goosby knew Kwon was pregnant.
Goosby's commitment to a state psychiatric hospital could be for the remainder of his life. His confinement will be subject to ongoing evaluations and risk assessments conducted by state officials. Any decision regarding increased privileges or potential release would necessitate notification to prosecutors and the King County Superior Court, both of whom retain the right to object. Such requests would also undergo review by the state’s Public Safety Review Panel. The court ultimately maintains authority over whether Goosby is ever granted an unconditional release. The King County Prosecutor’s Office emphasized the gravity of this commitment, stating, "This does not mean that Mr. Goosby will be released to the streets, now, a week from now, or in the immediate future."
The tragic death of Eina Kwon and her unborn child deeply impacted the community. Then-Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell previously described the killing as an "unimaginable tragedy." Eina Kwon’s funeral, held at Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home on June 23, 2023, was open to the public, drawing many who mourned the senseless loss.
