Fleeing with a Firearm... Nationwide Manhunt
"Concerns It Could Escalate into a Yakuza Gang War"
In connection with the incident where a man in his 40s was shot dead in broad daylight at a Starbucks terrace in Japan, the Japanese police have identified the suspect as a 60-year-old Yakuza executive and issued a nationwide warrant. Some speculate that this incident arose from conflicts between rival organizations and there is a possibility it could escalate into a gang war.
The image of Yuichiro Maetani, the Starbucks shooting murder suspect, released by the Japanese police. (Photo by ANN)
On the 16th, Asahi Shimbun reported that in relation to the shooting death at the rooftop terrace of a Starbucks in Ehime Prefecture, the prefectural police issued a nationwide warrant the previous day for 62-year-old Yuichiro Maetani, an executive of the designated organized crime group "Ikedagumi (池田組)," on suspicion of murder.
The police explained, "The suspect is accused of fatally shooting 49-year-old Yuichiro Ishikawa with a firearm around 4 p.m. on the 14th at the Starbucks terrace seating area," adding, "The suspect and Ishikawa were acquaintances." They further stated, "After the shooting, he fled on foot carrying the firearm, and his whereabouts have been unknown since." The police described Maetani as having a short and stout build, standing 163 cm tall, and wearing a red jumper and beige pants at the time of the incident.
Japanese media are focusing on the fact that the suspect is an executive of a designated organized crime group, commonly known as the "Yakuza." The Public Security Commission of Japan classifies groups considered particularly severe among violent organizations as "designated organized crime groups." To be designated, a group must meet three conditions: ▲obtaining funds through intimidating behavior ▲having a certain proportion of members with criminal records ▲being hierarchically structured under a primary group or leader.
The designated organized crime group "Ikedagumi," to which Maetani belongs, is based in Okayama Prefecture and has carried out shootings in 2016 and 2020 due to attacks on its members. Some speculate that Maetani is the head of a subordinate group called "Koryukai (功龍會)" under Ikedagumi, and that the murdered man had defected to Ikedagumi’s rival group, "Yamaguchigumi." This shooting is believed to be revenge for betrayal of the organization.
Japanese online media Higashi Spo Web reported, "Ikedagumi originally belonged to Yamaguchigumi but declared its departure, and since then, the two groups have fiercely clashed, committing crimes targeting each other's members," adding, "Although tensions had recently calmed, there are concerns that this incident could reignite the conflict, prompting the police to strengthen their vigilance."
However, the police have not officially commented on the relationship between the two men and the organized crime groups, only stating that they have received reports of a personal conflict between the two. The police have formed a special investigation unit of about 200 officers to track Maetani’s whereabouts.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
