Months before he was fatally shot by a coworker at a city-owned maintenance yard office, Joey McLean warned human resources that the employee who would later kill him, Brysen Kim, was armed at work, according to newly released public records.
“My fear is based on a combination of specific, verifiable factors that make Brysen’s behavior extremely dangerous,” McLean wrote on Feb. 24.
In the email, McLean included a bulleted list alleging that Kim outweighed him by 60 pounds, had displayed unpredictable and aggressive behavior, and carried a concealed weapon.
He added, “As an essential interim measure, I must be completely separated from Brysen Kim.”
Letters authored by Kim also expressed safety concerns.
“Joey McLean sent me a message after work accusing me of all kinds of things and attacking me personally about my religion, my relationship with my wife, my lifestyle,” Kim wrote on Feb. 14, referencing an incident that occurred Feb. 9. “I know he wanted a reaction from me”
Kim, 31, is accused of fatally shooting McLean, 41, on June 12 in the 400 block of North Seventh Street, near East Mesquite Avenue.
The two men had been locked in a monthslong workplace conflict. Kim told police that McLean had repeatedly harassed him, a claim McLean’s wife disputes.
Kim, who pleaded not guilty this month, has been placed on leave without pay.
Kim also repeatedly sought a transfer off McLean’s team, most recently four days before the shooting. He wrote that months of complaints to management and human resources had gone unaddressed, leaving him feeling unsupported.
“This situation has reached a breaking point for me,” Kim wrote. “I have cooperated with every request made by management and HR, participated in the processes that were outlined for me, and provided information regarding my concerns. Despite these efforts, there has been no meaningful resolution after approximately six months.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A previous version of this story provided an incorrect date for a letter authored by Kim.
Contact Akiya Dillon at adillon@reviewjournal.com.
