Arab News Japan

NAGANO: The Nagano prefectural police chief expressed at a press conference Friday his “deepest regret” over two officers being shot to death in Thursday’s stabbing and shooting in the central Japan prefecture.

In the incident in the city of Nakano, two women — Yasuko Takeuchi, 70, and Yukie Murakami, 66, — were killed in a knife attack. Police officers Yoshiki Tamai, 46, and Takuo Ikeuchi, 61, were shot by a hunting rifle when they rushed to the crime scene in response to an emergency call.

Masanori Aoki, 31, was arrested the following day, after barricading himself at his home.

“It was a heinous incident,” said Iwao Koyama, the police chief.

Koyama said the two officers were not wearing bulletproof vests.

“I’ve heard that they had a strong sense of justice and took their duties very seriously,” said Satoshi Yamakoshi, criminal investigation head at the prefectural police department.

Aoki is believed to have used one of four guns for which he has permits, according to the police.

Meanwhile, neighbors said they often saw Takeuchi and Murakami taking walks together.

“She was a very frank person,” a 69-year-old neighbor said while describing Takeuchi.

As for Murakami, an 86-year-old woman who lives close by said she was “bright and cheerful.”

“I knew the Aoki family, and there was no trouble between us,” Murakami’s husband said. “I have no idea why (she was attacked).”

Also on Friday, the Nakano city assembly announced that Masamichi Aoki, 57-year-old speaker of the assembly and father of the suspect, tendered his resignation and it was accepted.

JIJI Press