Kumamoto –
A police officer shot and wounded a 21-year-old man who allegedly robbed a comfort retailer in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, after which approached officers with a kitchen knife on the night of July 22.
Video from the scene confirmed the knife-wielding man going through an officer who had drawn a handgun. The officer fired on the suspect, apparently placing him across the leg, however the man continued holding the knife.
“Drop the weapon,” an officer shouted earlier than police moved in to restrain him.
An officer then used a baton to knock the knife from the person’s hand, permitting police to take him into custody.
The suspect, recognized as Shion Maeda, 21, an unemployed or in any other case unidentified employee who lives close by, was arrested on the scene on suspicion of obstructing the efficiency of official duties.
A witness who recorded the confrontation stated Maeda had stood up and approached an officer whereas pointing the knife at him.
“The officer fired one or two warning shots into the air and told him something like, ‘Drop the weapon,’ but he did not drop it, so I think the officer shot him in the leg,” the witness stated. “He did not seem to be in pain at all.”
According to police and other people acquainted with the incident, Maeda is believed to have entered the comfort retailer in Koshi at round 6 p.m. on July 22, threatened an worker with a bladed weapon and stolen 30,000 yen in money.
An individual related to the shop stated the suspect initially appeared calm.
“When he came into the store, he seemed composed. I do not think he was shouting,” the individual stated. “There were several customers inside, so I wondered what to do and then shouted loudly, ‘Please run away.'”
Police officers responding to the theft repeatedly ordered Maeda to decrease the knife after he allegedly pointed it at them, however he refused to conform, prompting an officer to open hearth, in response to police.
A resident residing close to the scene stated the primary shot appeared to have been fired into the air, though the witness couldn’t inform whether or not any of the photographs struck the suspect.
“The first two shots sounded almost one after another, and then there was another shot after a short pause,” the resident stated.
Maeda was struck by gunfire and suffered accidents to his proper shoulder and proper leg. His accidents weren’t thought-about life-threatening.
Police stated that they had not been capable of verify whether or not Maeda admits or denies the allegations as a result of he was receiving medical therapy. Authorities stated they had been investigating whether or not the officer’s use of the handgun was applicable.
Source: TBS