Seattle black man found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing pregnant woman Eina Kwon

A black man charged in a 2023 daytime shooting in Seattle that left a pregnant woman and her unborn baby dead has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, officials confirmed this week. He will be committed to a state psychiatric hospital, and his custody status will be reviewed over time.

Cordell Goosby had faced counts of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder in connection with the June 13, 2023, attack that killed 34-year-old Eina Kwon and injured her husband, Sung Kwon. The couple was stopped at a red light around 11:15 am while on their way to work at their restaurant, Aburiya Bento House, when the shooting happened.

According to court filings, Goosby approached the driver’s side of the couple’s vehicle and opened fire. Prosecutors wrote: "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." They added, "The defendant’s actions left a family and community shattered."

Police later located Goosby, who surrendered and said, "I did it! I did it!" according to court documents.

Officials said Goosby was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior criminal record in Illinois. Authorities allege he used a stolen gun in the shooting.

Medical experts for both the defense and prosecution evaluated Goosby and concluded he was legally insane at the time of the incident. Based on those findings, the court accepted the insanity plea. Under King County procedures, a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict means the defendant acknowledges committing the acts and agrees to confinement in a psychiatric facility.

Then-Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell previously called the killing an "unimaginable tragedy."

Goosby will remain in state custody, and any potential release would require approval from multiple state and court authorities.