Japan man arrested after doctor shot dead in hostage crisis
- The 66-year-old also attacked two other medical workers who visited the suspect’s home near Tokyo to express condolences over the death of his mother
- He shot the male doctor with what appeared to be a hunting gun during the 11-hour stand-off in Fujimino
A 66-year-old man attacked three medical workers making a visit to his home near Tokyo on Thursday night, shooting at least one of them with what appeared to be a hunting gun and taking another of them hostage, police said, adding that the captive was later confirmed dead.
The 11-hour stand-off came to an end early Friday after the police stormed the house in Fujimino, Japan’s Saitama prefecture, and arrested the man, who was named as Hiroshi Watanabe.
The dead hostage was 44-year-old doctor Junichi Suzuki, the police said. The shot medical worker, a 41-year-old physiotherapist, remains unconscious.
The three visited the house around 9pm (local time) on Thursday, apparently to express condolences over the recent death of the suspect’s mother.
They were in charge of home medical care for the mother, investigative sources said.
The third medical worker was also taken to hospital after being injured with tear gas spray, the police said.