Alleged Dairy Queen robber was a former high school football star

By Paul Takahashi

Published Monday, Aug. 20, 2012 | 8:15 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012 | 1:01 p.m.

The alleged Samurai sword-wielding robber who was shot to death at a central valley Dairy Queen on Sunday was a former prep football star and honors graduate of Las Vegas High School.

Bong Kuk Pak — who went by “Steve” — graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1994 after starring at quarterback, once throwing nine touchdown passes in a single game, and being named MVP of the Wildcats, according to UNLV, where in 1998 he was a walk-on wide receiver on the football team.

After his football-playing days Pak became a Clark County employee. According to county records, Pak began working as an administrative secretary in 2006 and then as an election program supervisor earning about $50,000 a year until Dec. 27, 2010. County sources said Pak was let go and went through a drug rehabilitation program.

The once-promising student-athlete was gunned down Sunday afternoon by a Dairy Queen clerk after Pak, 36, allegedly tried to rob the ice cream shop with a sword, according to an arrest report released Monday afternoon.

Metro Police arrested Pak’s girlfriend Carol Matteo, 47, on Sunday in connection with the incident.

Police reports give this account of the incident:

Pak and Matteo went to a strip mall — anchored by a Smith’s supermarket and a Las Vegas Athletic Club — at the intersection of Maryland Parkway and Sahara Avenue on Sunday morning.

Matteo told police Pak said he “was going to jack a person up at the (athletic) club,” and Pak had Matteo drive around and peek inside some of the businesses.

Matteo allegedly went into a Subway, a Domino’s Pizza and the Dairy Queen to scout the scene inside. Matteo allegedly told Pak the stores were not good places to rob.

Regardless, Pak got out of their silver Toyota Camry and walked into the Dairy Queen — at 2595 S. Maryland Parkway — shortly after noon. He was wearing black gloves, a white shirt and gray knit cap that covered his face. Pak was also wielding a decorative sword with a 27.5-inch blade. The sword looked to be a “katana” used by Samurai warriors in pre-industrial Japan.

After entering the shop, Pak went directly to the counter, unsheathed his sword and “violently swung” the blade into the cash register several times.

Store clerk Christian Wehbe Jr. was in another area of the store, heard the door chime rang as Pak entered the store and looked up at the store's surveillance system. On the monitor, Wehbe saw the masked man unsheath his sword and strike the cash register. Wehbe grabbed a nearby handgun and went to counter. There he confronted Pak and shot him twice.

Wehbe was “afraid (Pak) would jump the counter and attack him or his brother,” Michael Wehbe, another clerk. Michael called police. Their father, Christian Wehbe Sr., owns the store.

After being shot, Pak ran outside and collapsed. He was taken to Sunrise Hospital where he died.

Upon hearing gunshots, Matteo had driven away from the store and parked nearby. She got out of her car to check on Pak.

Responding police officers detained Matteo and viewed the Dairy Queen’s security camera footage. The video confirmed Wehbe’s account of what happened inside the store.

A Domino’s employee identified Matteo as the woman who came into his shop shortly before the shooting. Matteo also admitted to police she and Pak were out looking for businesses for Pak to rob.

Police arrested Matteo on charges of robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary. She was booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

Pak also was found to be the suspect in another robbery. On Saturday, a man allegedly took a purse from a woman on the 9300 block of Baltinglass Street in the southeast valley. The suspect and the getaway vehicle’s license plate closely match those identifying Pak. Police will search the Camry driven by Matteo for evidence, pending a search warrant, the report said.

The Dairy Queen was closed Monday. Christian Webhe, who allegedly shot Pak, told the Sun on Monday that the shooting was an “emotional” experience for his family.

“Right now we’re all trying to get through this experience,” he said.

Las Vegas Sun reporters Christina Chang and Joe Schoenmann contributed to this report.

CORRECTION: This version corrects that Pak was a star high school quarterback and a walk-on wide receiver at UNLV. | (August 21, 2012)