The Police received a report at approximately 7:10 pm on January 15, stating that a suspicious man had taken a knife from a shop in Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Promptly arriving at the scene, the Police found the man holding a 12-inch knife on Tuen Wui Street outside the Plaza. At the time, the man was waving the knife at several passersby, causing panic and prompting the public to flee.
The man took a knife from a shop in Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Photo source: Threads@oliviachows
The man held a 12-inch knife on Tuen Wui Street outside Tuen Mun Town Plaza, Photo source: online image
The man waved the knife at several passersby, causing panic and prompting the public to flee. Photo source: online image
Ms. Chung Lai Yee, the Senior Superintendent of Police from Crime New Territories North Headquarters, stated that the Police immediately issued verbal warnings to the man, but to no avail. They then fired pepper spray at him, but the man entered Tuen Mun Town Plaza through an entrance and quickly exited through another. As he exited, he grabbed a female passerby hostage and simultaneously attacked her with the knife he was holding.
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The man took a knife from a shop in Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Photo source: Threads@oliviachows
The man held a 12-inch knife on Tuen Wui Street outside Tuen Mun Town Plaza, Photo source: online image
The man waved the knife at several passersby, causing panic and prompting the public to flee. Photo source: online image
Ms. Chung Lai Yee, the Senior Superintendent of Police from Crime New Territories North Headquarters, Photo source: FB of the Hong Kong Police
Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. Photo source: online image
Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. Photo source: on-site CCTV
Mr. Wong Ho Hon, the Deputy District Commander of Tuen Mun, Photo source: FB of the Hong Kong Police
Ms. Chung Lai Yee, the Senior Superintendent of Police from Crime New Territories North Headquarters, Photo source: FB of the Hong Kong Police
Ms. Chung mentioned that the Police issued warnings to the man again, but to no avail repeatedly. Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. The man fell to the ground after being shot and was immediately subdued by the Police. Immediately rescuing the female hostage, the Police provided first aid to the man, who was then sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for further treatment. The man was pronounced dead at 8:40 pm after resuscitation efforts failed, while the female passerby was also taken to the hospital for treatment with injuries.
Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. Photo source: online image
Two officers of the Emergency Unit each fired a shot at the man. Photo source: on-site CCTV
Ms. Chung stated that police subsequently found a packet of suspected dangerous drugs and an extendable baton in the man's shoulder bag. Doctors have found a bullet in the man's body, with gunshot wounds to the chest and right shoulder. The female hostage sustained minor injuries. The Police also searched the scene, finding a bullet hole and two shell casings in the exterior wall of a shop at the shooting location.
Ms. Chung said that according to preliminary investigations, the deceased is a 34-year-old local man holding a Hong Kong identity card, with underworld connections and a previous drug-related criminal conviction. As for the case, the Police reviewed numerous CCTV clips and found no accomplices with him. Drugs were found on the man, raising the possibility that he may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack. The case is currently being followed up by Team 2 of the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North for further investigation.
Mr. Wong Ho Hon, the Deputy District Commander of Tuen Mun, Photo source: FB of the Hong Kong Police
Mr. Wong Ho Hon, the Deputy District Commander of Tuen Mun, stated that the Police have stringent guidelines regarding the use of firearms. Given the seriousness of the incident, the officers of the Emergency Unit New Territories North opted for immediate tactical intervention. The actions of the two officers fully complied with the Police's requirements for the use of firearms, using them only when there were no other options. Mr. Wong pointed out that the Police undergo rigorous training, making the use of firearms always aimed at the largest part of the body. In this case, both shots did strike the largest part of the body. Moreover, Mr. Wong emphasized that using firearms is an extremely difficult decision for the Police, based on the purpose to save the life of an innocent passerby this time.
