Introduction to the Case
For William Tse, the past four years without his father, Woom Sing Tse, have been marked by “relentless waiting,” for the family and much of Chicago’s close-knit Chinatown community. But on Thursday, they only had to wait about an hour before a Cook County jury found Alphonso Joyner guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of the elder Tse, which took place Dec. 7, 2021, in the 200 block of West 23rd Place, not far from his home while he was taking his daily walk to get a newspaper.
The Impact on the Family
“Four years, no sleep,” Tse’s wife, Shin Oh Chow Tse, said through tears while addressing reporters. The couple met in middle school in China and immigrated to the U.S. when their eldest son wasn’t even 2 years old. Tse’s family thanked the Chinatown community for their support and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 19. “This doesn’t bring my dad back, but it gives us a little peace,” said Carina Set, Tse’s daughter. “We know we want our dad to be remembered.”
The Life of Woom Sing Tse
Tse, who died at 71, was well known around Chinatown as an avid ping-pong player and “epitome” of the American dream, his son William Tse previously told the Chicago Sun-Times. Looking toward the future, William Tse said he’ll keep his dad’s values, teachings and guidance top of mind. Tse moved to the U.S. from China as a young man with $100 in his pocket and took a “tough love” approach to parenting, instilling a sense of hard work and dedication in his children. He worked as a cook before opening two restaurants in the Chicago suburbs. “Justice has been served. The real mission now is to honor his life through what we do every day and how he brought us up,” William Tse said.
The Trial and Verdict
Prosecutors didn’t spend time trying to hammer home a motive, saying they couldn’t comprehend why anyone would carry out a shooting “in cold blood” on a winter afternoon. “Who would commit such a random, heinous act of violence?” Cook County assistant state’s attorney Kevin Deboni said while addressing the jury. “What would a motive for that be?” The defense tried to poke holes in the prosecution’s argument by casting doubt on the assertion that the person seen firing shots in several videos was Joyner. Defense attorney Barry Horewitch said Joyner, who was 23 years old at the time, was “in the wrong place at the wrong time in the wrong car after a horrific murder on the streets of Chicago.”
Woom Sing Tse is pictured with family members.
Evidence and Testimony
During testimony and closing arguments, prosecutors laid out the events leading up to the shooting. Tse was going for his usual afternoon walk to pick up a newspaper when a car approached and someone inside fired several shots, paused, then fired several more shots, according to Chicago police and video evidence played at Joyner’s trial. As Tse moans and falls to the ground, a person prosecutors say is Joyner exited the car and fired another volley of shots. A heavy silence in the courtroom was punctuated by sniffling and stifled sobs after one video played. Tse’s wife and daughter, utterly distraught, left the room. Joyner was arrested later that night in the car captured on video. He was also wearing similar clothing and was in possession of a “ghost gun,” without a serial number, prosecutors said.
Community Reaction
Hundreds of Chinatown residents hold posters that read “crime is crime” as they walk along South Wentworth Avenue during a silent protest around Chinatown, Dec. 27, 2021. The silent demonstration was held in response to the fatal shooting of 71-year-old Woom Sing Tse.
Conclusion
The guilty verdict brings a measure of closure to the Tse family and the Chinatown community, but it does not erase the pain and trauma caused by the senseless murder of Woom Sing Tse. As the community continues to heal and come to terms with the tragedy, they will also continue to advocate for justice and safety in their neighborhood.
FAQs
Q: Who was Woom Sing Tse?
A: Woom Sing Tse was
