Shinzo Abe shooting: who’s killer Tetsuya Yamagami and what weapon did he use?
- Former Japanese PM Abe was on Friday shot by suspect Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old former navy member
- He told police he was ‘frustrated’ with Abe and wanted to kill him over complaints that were not related to political views
In a country where gun violence is rare, the murder of former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe is raising big questions about the shooter and his motive.
What we know, based on media reports and official statements so far, is that Abe had just begun a campaign speech in the Western city of Nara on Friday when he was shot from behind, from a distance of about three metres (10 feet).
Two gunshots were heard. Moments later security personnel tackled a man to the floor. He was wearing a grey T-shirt, khaki trousers and a face mask.
Abe, 67, was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was later pronounced dead despite emergency treatment that included massive blood transfusions, hospital officials said.
Nara Medical University emergency department chief Hidetada Fukushima said Abe suffered major damage to his heart in addition to two neck wounds that damaged an artery, causing extensive bleeding. He was in a state of cardio and pulmonary arrest when he arrived at the hospital and never regained his vital signs, Fukushima said.
The gunmen has been identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, a 41-year-old former member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Local media said he had worked for the Navy from 2002 to 2005.