Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Japan News/Yomiuri
The Japan News/Yomiuri
National
The Yomiuri Shimbun

Teen cadet was targeting 52-year-old GSDF instructor, police sources say

GIFU -- An 18-year-old Ground Self-Defense Force cadet suspected of fatally shooting two GSDF members and wounding one other at a firing range in Gifu on Wednesday has told authorities he was targeting one of the victims, according to Gifu prefectural police sources.

Two instructors aged 52 and 25 were killed, and another aged 25 was injured. All of the victims were men.

The suspect, who was arrested at the scene, told police he was targeting the 52-year-old instructor, according to the sources.

On Thursday morning, the prefectural police sent the teen to the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of murder.

The prefectural police and the SDF police unit are investigating the motive behind the attack.

The cadet allegedly fired shots with a Type 89 rifle toward the three instructors during a training exercise at the GSDF's Hino basic firing range at around 9:10 a.m. Wednesday.

The suspect has denied intending to kill the younger instructor, telling police, "I meant to shoot him in the leg. I didn't mean to kill him."

The GSDF had not observed any problems with the suspect's attitude toward his duties as a cadet, according to Defense Ministry sources.

According to the GSDF, the teen joined a training unit in April and was undergoing education and training with the 35th Infantry Regiment based in Moriyama Ward, Nagoya.

Cadets typically take aptitude tests during the recruitment phase, and after enlistment, they are assigned a mentor who keeps a record of changes in their lives and service careers, according to ministry sources.

After the shooting, the GSDF reviewed the teen's records but did not discover any issues.

On the day of the shooting, training began around 8 a.m., and after safety guidance, live-fire exercises started around 9 a.m.

About 70 cadets, including the suspect, entered designated areas in turns to practice shooting.

The suspect allegedly shot the instructor at 9:10 a.m.

According to the police and the ministry, something might have occurred between the cadet and the 52-year-old instructor just before the shooting.

The cadet's age means he will be treated as a "specified juvenile" under the Juvenile Law that took effect in April last year. Following the case's transfer to a family court, it will be referred to prosecutors if it is determined that a penalty should be imposed.

Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.