[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] A man in his 50s who broke into a factory in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, wielding a weapon claiming he was owed money by the factory owner, was shot with live ammunition and apprehended after a standoff with the police.
The man was shot through the thigh but is reported to be in stable condition.
The Gyeongnam Gimhae Western Police Station announced on the 1st that they arrested a man in his 50s, identified as Mr. A, on charges of obstructing official duties.
According to the police, Mr. A attempted to break the lock and unlawfully enter a factory in Jinrye-myeon, Gimhae City, at around 4:51 a.m. that day.
A factory employee noticed this through the in-house CCTV and reported it to the police.
When two responding officers tried to stop Mr. A, who was about to leave by car, he swung the weapon he was carrying and tried to break into the factory again. At the time, Mr. A was armed with three homemade swords ranging from 30 to 70 cm in length.
Despite police attempts to restrain him, Mr. A continued trying to enter the factory. The police fired a Taser to subdue him, but it was ineffective because Mr. A was wearing thick clothing.
After breaking a first-floor window to enter the factory and moving to the second-floor office, the police pursued him, issuing a warning and firing one blank round.
In response, Mr. A charged at the police wielding the weapon, prompting the officers to fire three additional live rounds. Two missed, but one pierced his thigh.
Mr. A was subdued and arrested on the spot as a suspect. He stated that he broke in because he was owed money by the factory owner.
Mr. A was transported to a hospital for treatment, and the police plan to investigate the exact circumstances.
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