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Ammunition and flammable materials found at the home of the father who killed his son with a homemade firearm in Songdo, Incheon. (Photo: Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency) |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A 63-year-old man has been arrested and formally detained for fatally shooting his son with a homemade firearm during a birthday celebration in Songdo, Incheon.
The Incheon Yeonsu Police Station announced on July 22 that the suspect, identified as Mr. A, was arrested on charges of murder, violation of the Act on the Safety Control of Firearms, Knives and Explosives, and attempted arson of an occupied building.
Presiding Judge Yoo A-ram of the Incheon District Court issued the arrest warrant, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering and flight risk. Mr. A did not appear at the detention warrant hearing held at 2:00 p.m. on the same day.
During police questioning, Mr. A refused to elaborate on his motive, stating only, "There were family conflicts. Don't try to understand."
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on July 20, when Mr. A allegedly shot and killed his 33-year-old son, Mr. B, with a self-manufactured firearm after stepping out briefly during a birthday party held in his honor. The gun, which Mr. A claimed to have made based on YouTube tutorials, had been stored in his vehicle. He fired three rounds—two striking his son and one hitting the door. The son’s wife, two grandchildren, and a family friend were also present at the time.
Police stated that Mr. A also faces charges of preparing to set fire to his residence in Dobong-gu, Seoul, where he had reportedly filled 15 plastic bottles with flammable liquids and installed an ignition device.
Mr. A told investigators he had purchased the ammunition two decades ago after his divorce, allegedly in preparation for suicide. At the time of his arrest, police recovered 86 shotgun shells from his vehicle.
Following the crime, the suspect fled the scene in a rented vehicle toward Misari in Seoul. He was apprehended by police at approximately 12:20 a.m. on July 21 near Namtaeryeong.
Police confirmed that Mr. A was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and had no known history of mental illness or prior weapons-related convictions. Criminal profilers have been assigned to assess his mental state and investigate the motive in greater detail.
The National Forensic Service (NFS), which conducted a preliminary autopsy on the victim, issued an initial verbal opinion indicating that Mr. B likely died from organ damage caused by gunshot wounds. A full toxicology and histological analysis is currently underway.
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
