A man who fled to South Korea after allegedly stabbing a young man to death in Queens over 24 years ago has been extradited back to New York to face trial, according to prosecutors.
Ho “Alex” Shin, now 43, reportedly told someone he “needed to get out of town” following the violent incident that involved 22-year-old Kim Hyung-dae in a Flushing apartment on January 6, 2002. The Queens District Attorney’s Office and the New York City Police Department confirmed his return to the city under murder charges.
The NYPD reported that the stabbing occurred around 5:10 a.m. that day at an apartment located at 153rd Street and 35th Street in Flushing.
Prosecutors allege that Shin and Kim were part of a group that reconvened at a mutual friend’s place after a night out. At some point, Shin left, contacted a 16-year-old boy, and directed him to bring two knives, the authorities stated.
Upon returning with the boy, Shin allegedly broke into the apartment and began to stab Kim multiple times.
The attack was triggered by what the DA’s office described as a reaction to a perceived disrespect that had occurred earlier that night. According to the prosecutors, Shin continued the assault after Kim’s friend, Hyun Seok-yu, attempted to intervene.
Both victims were taken to a hospital, but Kim, who was from Babylon in Suffolk County, unfortunately did not survive, while Yoo recovered.
The younger suspect was arrested on the day of the incident and charged with murder and weapons offenses, but Shin managed to evade capture until he was apprehended in December 2025.
Prosecutors shared that he returned to New York on a flight coordinated by the U.S. Marshals Service.
In court on Friday, Shin faced several charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and multiple assault charges. He was ordered by Supreme Court Justice Jessica Earl Gargan to return for another court appearance on February 17.
If found guilty, he could be sentenced to 50 years in prison. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated, “No matter how much time passes, we will never give up on the victims and their families.” She further emphasized the collaboration with federal and international law enforcement, which helped secure Shin’s return to Queens.
