In a heartbreaking incident just weeks before Christmas, a Florida mother and business owner lost her life while attempting to stop shoplifters at her beauty supply store in Jacksonville. Ilson Miriam Kim, 64, confronted two individuals who had stolen items from her store, Beauty Max, on the evening of December 6th. As the suspects attempted to flee in their vehicle, Kim was tragically struck and later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.

According to Sergeant Steve Rudlaff of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, at least three suspects were involved in the incident. Two entered the store, while a third waited in the getaway car. One suspect fled on foot, while the other two escaped in the vehicle after one of them loaded the stolen merchandise. Kim's husband revealed that the store had been plagued by recurring shoplifting incidents. A neighboring business owner stated that Kim, frustrated by the ongoing thefts, decided to take action and pursued the suspects.

Kim's family described her as a dedicated wife, mother, and entrepreneur. Beauty Max was her first independently owned business, a testament to her hard work and determination. They expressed their grief and disbelief at the tragic circumstances of her death, noting that she had instilled values of hard work, persistence, empathy, and love in her daughters.

Adding to the family's pain, they shared that someone had even stolen from the store the day after Kim's passing. Kim immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1986, seeking better opportunities. A fundraising page established for her family described her as a true matriarch and emphasized the profound impact her loss has had on her loved ones.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is actively investigating the incident, and no arrests have been made at this time.