the lack of law enforcement forced koreatown civilians to organize their own armed security teams, mainly composed of store owners, to defend their businesses from rioters. many had military experience from serving in the republic of korea armed forces before emigrating to the united states. open gun battles were televised, including an incident in which korean shopkeepers armed with m1 carbines, ruger mini-14s, pump-action shotguns, and handguns exchanged gunfire with a group of armed looters, and forced their retreat. but there were casualties, such as 18-year-old edward song lee, who was accidentally shot to death by korean shopkeepers while protecting a pizza shop with three friends. hyungwon kang captured a now-famous photograph of lee's body in the street.