LASD (source; Media detail Deputy Wally Bracks) says Thomas Kim, 77, succumbed a previous medical condition/pre-existing illness on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 3:21 a.m. at the USC Medical Center jail ward.

Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG POOL coverage

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, on July 9, Kim made his first appearance in court in a wheel chair and hospital garb in a secured area, and a public defender told the court she's been unable to communicate with him, presumably for medical reasons. The court granted defense counsel's request for a postponement to August 15.

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The 77 year old resident of a downtown (East Village) retirement high rise faced one count of murder, one count of attempted murder of a firefighter, two counts of attempted murder and one count each of arson of an inhabited structure and explosion with intent to murder.

Prosecutors said Kim was allegedly trying to kill a woman who lived above him with whom he'd been feuding, and waited in a hallway where he shot/killed LBFD Capt. Rosa and shot/wounded another LBFD firefighter and a building resident.

Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG POOL coverage

A previous DA office release said Kim "allegedly had been feuding with a woman who lived above him and set off an explosive device on June 25 in his apartment with the intent to kill her...After the explosion in his apartment, the defendant reportedly sat at the opposite end of hallway from his apartment when Long Beach fire Capt. Dave Rosa made his way down the hall...Kim allegedly opened fire on Rosa, killing him, and then fired and wounded firefighter Ernesto Torres and another man who lived in the building..."

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Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG POOL coverage

LBFD Captain Rosa. a LB Firefighter for 17 years and a Captain for six and half years, left a wife and two children. On July 3, thousands of people, ranging from local officials, to firefighters locally and beyond, attended a two and a half hour Memorial Ceremony for Capt. Rosa at the LB Convention Center. (LBREPORT.com coverage here.)

At a press briefing on the day of the shooting, LBPD Chief Robert Luna made an eloquent, extemporaneous statement: "That's the environment we work in today, as law enforcement and firefighters. You go to these scenes and you never know what's on the other side of those doors. And these brave firefighters went through those doors and unfortunately they were met with gunfire."

LBREPORT.com continues to provide a link to the following website allowing online donations to the Capt. Rosa Family Fund (via Friends of Long Beach Firefighters

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