SAITAMA: The suspect in a recent fatal hostage incident in eastern Japan fired three times after the male doctor of his mother and others declined to resuscitate her a day after her death, it was learned Sunday.

In the incident, the doctor, Junichi Suzuki, 44, who ran his clinic, was shot dead. A  physical therapist, 41, was shot in the upper part of his body and suffered serious injuries.

The suspect, Hiroshi Watanabe, 66, had been living with his mother at their house in the city of Fujimino, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. The mother began to use home care services of Suzuki’s clinic several years ago, according to investigative sources.

Suzuki is believed to have confirmed the death of Watanabe’s mother, 92, around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday (6:45 a.m. GMT).

Later, Watanabe told Suzuki and six other staff members of the clinic to visit his house around 9 p.m. Thursday.

When the clinic staff members visited the house, Watanabe repeatedly asked them to give cardiac massage to his mother.

After Suzuki declined to do so by telling Watanabe that it is impossible to resuscitate her, the latter fired a shotgun three times, according to the sources.

Suzuki was shot first and died instantly. The physical therapist was shot then and was seriously injured.

A male medical consultant, who was among the seven clinic staff members, was assaulted with tear gas spray. But he seized the gun and escaped, suffering no injuries.

JIJI Press