Cordell Goosby Found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in Fatal 2023 Shooting of Pregnant Seattle Restaurateur

Cordell Goosby will be committed to a psychiatric hospital after being found not guilty by reason of insanity for the 2023 killing of Eina Kwon and her baby.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 4:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Mail

Insanity Ruling Precludes Criminal Prison Sentence

The legal proceedings regarding the random 2023 ambush of a Seattle family concluded Saturday with a "not guilty by reason of insanity" verdict for Cordell Goosby. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office signed off on the ruling after two independent evaluations—one by the defense and one by the state—determined Goosby was legally insane during the attack. While the ruling acknowledges that Goosby committed the physical acts, it mandates psychiatric commitment under the Department of Social and Health Services rather than incarceration in a state penitentiary.

Details of the Fatal 2023 Intersection Ambush

The case dates back to June 13, 2023, when Eina Kwon, who was eight months pregnant, and her husband, Evan Sung Kwon, were stopped at a red light in their Tesla. Witnesses and surveillance footage captured Goosby running toward the vehicle and firing multiple rounds through the driver’s side window. Eina Kwon was struck four times, including in the head and chest. Emergency doctors performed a desperate cesarean section at Harborview Medical Center, but neither the 34-year-old restaurateur nor her newborn daughter survived the injuries. Evan Sung Kwon survived the attack with bullet fragments remaining in his arm.

Mental Health Crisis and Post-Arrest Statements

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, responding officers described Goosby as appearing to be in the midst of a profound mental health crisis. Court documents reveal that upon his arrest, Goosby raised his hands and shouted, "I did it!" but later told investigators that he "blacked out" and experienced the event as a "blur." Bodycam footage showed him claiming his life was in danger, despite no evidence of a threat from the victims. These statements, combined with a history of mental health struggles, formed the basis for the insanity defense that ultimately led to the court’s decision.