Just after 10:40 on Thursday, September 15, 2022 Wilmington Police were dispatched to 109 W 9th Street, the Solid Gold Jewelers, for reports of a robbery in progress.
When officers arrived on scene they found the owner badly beaten. Wilmington Police did not release details of the robbery at the time. The son of the owner recently reached out on social media trying to bring awareness to the incident.
From a Gofundme set up for the father’s medical bills:
“Hi, my name is Steve, and I am a Korean-American entrepreneur. So is my father. Everything that I have accomplished in life I owe to him. Now he is suffering.
My father came to this country with the hope of economic promise. For years, he worked 12 hour days as a cashier and saved. Used his savings to open a small grocery store, then finally a jewelry store called Solid Gold. This store holds a special place for my family. It put me through college and provided a place for my brother, a combat Veteran, to go after he came back from overseas battered and lost. My father loves this store and he loves the community which surrounds it. He loves his customers and I would like to think that there is mutual admiration and respect for every gold chain across the counter.
Things have never been as tough as they have been recently. We were just scraping by during the covid pandemic then the evil opportunists during the George Floyd protests looted the store and left him with virtually nothing. My dad persevered though. His customers were glad to have him back. Then someone violently robbed the store.
First he pistol-whipped him. Then he stomped his head when my father tried to get up. Then finally beat him in the head 28 times with two of those blows thrown with a deadly hammer.
My Father was gravely injured. He was critically ill in the ICU after suffering from an internal head bleed and severe concussion. He spent 4 days there before heading to a rehabilitation facility. He is relearning how to do the most basic things like walk, read, and talk. My father is 68 and his “American Dream” has come to a crashing halt.
There has been no media coverage of this crime despite its horrific nature. With so much violence against Asians lately I struggle to understand why no one seems to care.
Thankfully, the suspect is now in custody with a $130,000 bond. He has a long criminal history but the charges against him are weak. The robbery could have been a stick-up alone, but I believe the hate / anger filled in this person led to the many unnecessary blows to my dad’s head. We want justice and to get this violent man off the streets before he hurts someone else.
I am raising this campaign to help pay for my dad’s medical bills, help my dad retire, and bring awareness to his case so that we may seek justice. Any excess funds will be shared to support local non-profits / organizations that support safety in the city and Asian-American hate crime groups.”
https://www.gofundme.com/f/robbery-and-aggravated-assault-in-wilmington-de
This 68-year old jewelry shop owner was pistol-whipped & hit in the head w/a hammer 9/15 in DE.
Son Steve told me he wants to spread awareness b/c “I’m thinking ab my family’s safety & safety of Korean biz owners.”
He spoke w/@nydia_han & @6abc covering 🧵⬇️ #StopAAPIHate pic.twitter.com/A1jaAipFIA
— Dion Lim (@DionLimTV) September 26, 2022
A search of the name of the suspect shows that he has been arrested multiple times.
Officials said the investigation resulted in the arrest of 39-year-old Calvin Ushery. An arrest warrant was secured for Ushery and he was taken into custody without incident on September 22.
He was charged with the following offenses:
- Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Felony
- Robbery 1st Degree
- Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited
- Criminal Mischief Under $5,000
He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $130,500 cash-only bail.