17-Year-Old Taiwanese Boy Who Opened Fire with a Machine Gun Claims He Was "Bullied"

by Kim Minyoung

Published 20 Apr.2023 20:51(KST)

Fortunately, No Human Casualties Reported

On the 20th, local media reported that a 17-year-old boy fired a submachine gun in downtown New Taipei City, Taiwan.

At around 8 a.m. that day, Ryu Mo-gun (17) fired about 60 rounds from a submachine gun at a shuttered store on Sichuan Road in Tucheng District, New Taipei City, before fleeing by taxi.

CCTV footage shows Ryu, wearing a black mask, getting out of the taxi and firing the gun, then taking another magazine from his backpack to reload and continuing to shoot.

After the crime, Ryu fled by taxi but surrendered to the police station about 50 minutes later.

Pedestrians near the scene were startled by the gunfire and evacuated urgently; fortunately, there were no casualties.

Ryu reportedly stated, "I used to work at that store, but I was collectively bullied by the boss and colleagues at the time," and "I committed the crime in a fit of anger."