On the 29th of August 2016, a man shot 4 employees with a gun at the small company that his family runs in Wakayama prefecture, Japan. He ran away, barricaded and shot himself to death.
This kind of incident is quite rare in Japan. There is hardly any gunfire (except for some yakuza business) or barricading. However, people question, did the police take the reasonable approach to this incident? What would happen if an incident of this nature occurred in your own country?
Here is the timeline that was reported by multiple media sources:
August 29
8:50: The suspect shot 4 employees at the meeting room of the construction company, Wadai Kogyo. This is his his family run company. This left 1 dead, 1 unconscious and 2 seriously wounded.
The suspect was supposed to be imprisoned on this day for violation of the Stimulant Drugs Control Act that was confirmed recently.
August 30
21:10: An ex-employee of the same company saw the suspect riding the push bike. It was reported and the police found him on the road. He shot at the police cars 4 times and ran away. One hit and broke the window of the police car.
August 31
1:00: The police found the suspect at an apartment near his company. He started barricading on the outdoor walkway of the second floor and on the stage of the construction site next to it. He had 2 guns. He sometimes pointed one at himself. The police started convincing him to surrender with their negotiators.
He was outside the building and exposed to the public. The police and the media could see him. He had no hostage.
6:46: He shot the gun once pointing at the ground. Nobody was hurt.
7:36: Another gun was fired. Nobody was hurt.
10:00: An 80-year-old man who lives on the 1st floor was rescued as the suspect requested the police to do so.
There were 3 residents left at the apartment at the start of the barricade but they all escaped.
18:30: The suspect shot himself in his own abdomen when the police was negotiating with him. He was arrested and taken to the hospital for treatment.
20:50: The suspect died at the hospital.