71-year-old Cerritos Man Identified as Burn Victim Found in La Palma

Authorities today released the name of the 71-year-old Cerritos man who committed suicide by lighting himself on fire in the greenery next to a La Palma strip mall parking lot along the Cerritos border.

The charred body of Ki Ryang Kim was discovered at 7002 Moody St. just after 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, according to Orange County Coroner's officials.

La Palma police Sgt. Raul Morales said police received a 911 call from a witness who had seen the man aflame in the parking lot behind the multi-unit shopping/office building near a McDonald’s  restaurant at the corner of Moody Street and Orangethorpe  Avenue.

This shopping center is frequented by many Cerritos residents who also know the intersection as Carmenita Road and South Street.

Orange County Fire Authority firefighters arrived at the scene to find Kim's burning body on the ground, the sergeant said. When the flames were doused, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A can of gasoline was also found near the Asian man's body, Morales said. A coroner's investigation has determined that Kim died of self-inflicted burns.