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▼ Two Dead After Shooting At Self-Defense Forces Gun Range In Central Japan
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A Self-Defense Force member was arrested Wednesday after allegedly killing two other personnel with a rifle at a Ground Self-Defense Force shooting range in the city of Gifu. Another victim was seriously injured.
The 18-year-old male suspect — who is a new GSDF recruit — was arrested at the scene for attempted murder. He admitted to the allegations, saying there was “no denying” that he had shot the victims, investigators said. The suspect is being held at a Gifu Prefectural Police station.
The incident marks the first fatal shooting at an SDF facility in nearly 40 years.
The three victims are a 52-year-old man and two 25-year-old men. All three were transported from the range to a hospital following the shooting. The 52-year-old and one of the 25-year-olds later died.
The suspect said his target was the 52-year-old instructor, but that he first shot a 25-year-old SDF member next to him because he was obstructing his line of sight, investigators told NHK.
The 25-year-old was shot in the side and the 52-year-old was shot in the chest.
Police authorities are investigating the specifics of the suspect’s motive.
The GSDF Middle Army military police and the Gifu Prefectural Police will jointly probe the incident, the GSDF announced.
There were no reports of civilian casualties. The GSDF said the incident happened at around 9 a.m. during a live-fire training session for rookie GSDF members at an indoor range.
The suspect used a Type 89 5.56mm rifle in the incident. It was his fifth time attending target practice since joining the force in April, the GSDF said.
“I would like to express my sincere apologies to the people of Japan for the great concern this has caused everyone,” Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said.
Earlier in the day, Gen. Yasunori Morishita, chief of staff of the GSDF, said in a news conference that the GSDF will set up an investigation committee to determine the cause and prevent a recurrence.
“As an organization that uses weapons, this kind of incident should never have happened,” Morishita said. “In response … we have immediately suspended all (live) firing drills throughout the country.”
He added that the GSDF has instructed troops to ensure management of their safety and that personnel will be provided with comprehensive training.
Morishita said the GSDF will also look into whether the suspect was frustrated at work or other factors that might have led to the shooting. It was not immediately clear whether the victims had bullet-proof vests on during training, he said.
The suspect is an SDF personnel candidate, which refers to those who have been with the SDF for less than three months. A candidate can become a full-fledged SDF member in short-term service after three months of training. For fiscal 2022, there were about 5,000 new GSDF recruits. Applicants need to be between the ages of 18 and 32.
The last fatal shooting involving SDF personnel took place in 1984, when a 21-year-old GSDF member fired shots during training at a base in the city of Yamaguchi, injuring four other members, including one person who later died.
The man fled the scene but was arrested later in the day.
The GSDF’s Morishita said no other similar shooting incidents had occurred until Wednesday.
The Hino shooting range is located in a residential area about 7 kilometers from Gifu Station. It was established in 1907 initially as a shooting range for the Imperial Japanese Army.
The GSDF has been using it since 1960 after it was seized by the Allied Forces after World War II.
The 18-year-old male suspect — who is a new GSDF recruit — was arrested at the scene for attempted murder. He admitted to the allegations, saying there was “no denying” that he had shot the victims, investigators said. The suspect is being held at a Gifu Prefectural Police station.
The incident marks the first fatal shooting at an SDF facility in nearly 40 years.
The three victims are a 52-year-old man and two 25-year-old men. All three were transported from the range to a hospital following the shooting. The 52-year-old and one of the 25-year-olds later died.
The suspect said his target was the 52-year-old instructor, but that he first shot a 25-year-old SDF member next to him because he was obstructing his line of sight, investigators told NHK.
The 25-year-old was shot in the side and the 52-year-old was shot in the chest.
Police authorities are investigating the specifics of the suspect’s motive.
The GSDF Middle Army military police and the Gifu Prefectural Police will jointly probe the incident, the GSDF announced.
There were no reports of civilian casualties. The GSDF said the incident happened at around 9 a.m. during a live-fire training session for rookie GSDF members at an indoor range.
The suspect used a Type 89 5.56mm rifle in the incident. It was his fifth time attending target practice since joining the force in April, the GSDF said.
“I would like to express my sincere apologies to the people of Japan for the great concern this has caused everyone,” Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said.
Earlier in the day, Gen. Yasunori Morishita, chief of staff of the GSDF, said in a news conference that the GSDF will set up an investigation committee to determine the cause and prevent a recurrence.
“As an organization that uses weapons, this kind of incident should never have happened,” Morishita said. “In response … we have immediately suspended all (live) firing drills throughout the country.”
He added that the GSDF has instructed troops to ensure management of their safety and that personnel will be provided with comprehensive training.
Morishita said the GSDF will also look into whether the suspect was frustrated at work or other factors that might have led to the shooting. It was not immediately clear whether the victims had bullet-proof vests on during training, he said.
The suspect is an SDF personnel candidate, which refers to those who have been with the SDF for less than three months. A candidate can become a full-fledged SDF member in short-term service after three months of training. For fiscal 2022, there were about 5,000 new GSDF recruits. Applicants need to be between the ages of 18 and 32.
The last fatal shooting involving SDF personnel took place in 1984, when a 21-year-old GSDF member fired shots during training at a base in the city of Yamaguchi, injuring four other members, including one person who later died.
The man fled the scene but was arrested later in the day.
The GSDF’s Morishita said no other similar shooting incidents had occurred until Wednesday.
The Hino shooting range is located in a residential area about 7 kilometers from Gifu Station. It was established in 1907 initially as a shooting range for the Imperial Japanese Army.
The GSDF has been using it since 1960 after it was seized by the Allied Forces after World War II.
- June 14, 2023
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