By Jason Cruz
Northwest Asian Weekly
King Donuts storefront
Heng Hey and Chea Pol, owners of King Donut, a Rainier Valley mainstay for almost 30 years were the victims of a brutal attack on January 2nd. The suspect remains at large.
According to the Seattle Police Department, the two were heading home after closing the business, located on the 9200 block of Rainier Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Friday night. As they attempted to leave in their car, a man attacked Pol as she climbed into the passenger seat of their car. He proceeded to physically attack Pol hitting her repeatedly in the face as he grabbed her purse. Hey tried to stop the robber, but was punched in the face and thrown to the sidewalk. . After stealing the purse, he ran from the scene through the nearby Safeway parking lot.
The attacker got away with Pol’s purse which included cash, an Ipad, an Iphone and a diamond brooch.
Paramedics were on the scene to treat the two. Both were taken to the hospital where they stayed overnight.
Heng Hey and Chea Pol suffered beating
Pol was diagnosed with a dislocated jaw. Hey suffered injuries to his face. Since being released on January 3rd, Pol has returned to the hospital with a possible concussion according to their daughter Davie Hay. “My mother’s teeth were in the back of her throat,” described Davie of her mom’s injuries.
Seattle Police were unable to locate the attacker and no arrests were made. According to the Seattle Police, the suspect is described as a black male in his 20’s – 30’s, 5’5″ – 5’8″ in height and slim, last seen wearing a black jacket, black pants, and black baseball hat.
King Donut was voted by readers of the Rainier Valley Post as the “Best Thing” in Southeast Seattle in 2013 and “Business of the Year” in 2014 by the Rainier Valley Chamber of Commerce.
A GoFundMe account where people can contribute money for the couple was established by Davie Hay to help pay for the medical expenses of Hey and Pol. At the time of this writing, there were 358 donations which have raised $17,145. The goal is $30,000.
The community has rallied around the couple as people showed up at the business on Monday following the attack with flowers and support. Donuts were sold out by noon due to the volume of well-wishers coming to the business.
The Cambodian couple escaped the Khmer Rouge and started a new life in the United States in the early 1980s. The two worked and saved enough money to open the business. Hey and Pol established King Donut in 1987. The establishment is a unique blend of donuts, teriyaki, and laundry shop that people in the neighborhood have used as a gathering place. (end)
If anyone has any information on this incident, Seattle Police has requested they contact the robbery unit at (206) 684-5540.
Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.