20s Male Arrested for Wielding a Weapon in Midair on Streets of Incheon

Police Arrest at Scene... Emergency Hospitalization Ordered
Nearby School Sends Text Messages to Parents

A man in his 20s who was wielding a weapon in the air on a street near an apartment complex in Cheongna International City, Incheon, was apprehended by the police.

On the 20th, the Incheon Western Police Station announced that they had arrested and were investigating a man in his 20s, identified as Mr. A, on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts. Mr. A is suspected of repeatedly swinging a weapon he was carrying in the air on a street near an apartment complex in Cheongna International City, Seo-gu, Incheon, around 11:30 a.m. the previous day. Several citizens recorded his actions, and the footage quickly spread across online communities. In the video, Mr. A, wearing a black T-shirt and a black glove on his left hand, repeatedly makes stabbing or slashing motions in the air with an object presumed to be a weapon.

On the 19th, a man in his 20s was swinging a weapon in the air on the street in Cheongna International City, Seo-gu, Incheon. [Image source=Social Networking Service (SNS) capture]

After eyewitness accounts of Mr. A were shared online, nearby schools sent notification text messages to parents stating, "There is information that a suspicious adult male is roaming around Cheongna. He appears to be carrying a dangerous object," and urged them to instruct their children to go straight home. Upon receiving reports, the police began a search and found Mr. A around 2:10 p.m. the same day nearby, leading to his emergency arrest. The weapon Mr. A was carrying was confiscated, and he was admitted for emergency hospitalization. Article 7 of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts stipulates that carrying a weapon likely to be used in a crime without justifiable reason is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million won.

A school in Seo-gu, Incheon sent a text message to parents. [Image source=Social Networking Service (SNS) capture]

A police official stated, "At the time of arrest, Mr. A was not swinging the weapon," and added, "We are investigating Mr. A’s motive, but we cannot disclose information regarding his mental health history." At one point, rumors circulated on internet communities that Mr. A had been released without charges, but this was confirmed to be false.

Meanwhile, so-called "random weapon rampage" incidents, where individuals wield weapons and injure strangers without any prior acquaintance, continue to occur.

The Gwangju Southern Police Station arrested and is investigating a man in his 50s, Mr. B, on charges including obstruction of official duties and assault on the 19th. Mr. B is suspected of repeatedly hitting a male pedestrian he did not know with his hands on a road in Songam-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, around 4:51 p.m. that day. After a dispute with the pedestrian who was riding a bicycle, Mr. B left the scene without further action and went to his residence. When the police arrived following a report, Mr. B fiercely resisted by wielding a weapon, injuring three officers on the forehead and other areas. Despite police firing two blanks and two live rounds into the air to subdue him, Mr. B did not stop resisting, and another officer eventually used a Taser to apprehend him. The police are investigating the exact circumstances and motive behind Mr. B’s actions.

Additionally, on the 15th, the Namhae Police Station in Gyeongnam arrested a man in his 50s, Mr. C, on suspicion of attempted murder. Mr. C is accused of swinging a weapon at a man in his 50s, Mr. D, in front of the elevator on the basement first floor of an apartment in Namhae-gun around 11:30 p.m. on the 12th, saying, "You must die," before fleeing. Mr. D was stabbed twice in the thigh and other areas, took refuge in the apartment security office, and was transported to a hospital. His life is reportedly not in danger. Police who arrived at the scene confirmed Mr. C’s movements through CCTV and arrested him at his home in Namhae. The police believe Mr. C committed the crime due to a sense of victimization and social dissatisfaction, as he reportedly felt oppressed by those around him, and are investigating the exact motive behind the crime.