"Taxi Hitting People," Residents Report... Man in His 20s Arrested After Killing Taxi Driver and Fleeing

Three Weapons Found in Suspect's Bag
Taxi Driver Dies at the Scene

Hwaseong West Police Station. Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency

The police are planning to request an arrest warrant for a man in his 20s who killed a taxi driver with a weapon after an argument over the driver's poor sense of direction, then drove the taxi into pedestrians before fleeing the scene.

On June 27, Hwaseong West Police Station announced that they would be applying for an arrest warrant for Mr. A (21) on charges including murder. Mr. A is accused of killing a taxi driver in his 60s, Mr. B, with a weapon on a road in Samhwa-ri, Bibong-myeon, Hwaseong, at around 3:27 a.m. the previous day, then stealing the taxi and fleeing. He is also accused of hitting two local residents with the stolen taxi during his escape, causing fractures and contusions to each of them.

The police responded to reports at the time stating, "A taxi has arrived and is hitting people," and "The taxi driver has collapsed." However, Mr. A had already fled the scene. At the site, the taxi driver in his 60s was found collapsed and was transported to the hospital by emergency services, but was pronounced dead.

About an hour later, at around 4:40 a.m., Mr. A was apprehended by officers from the Nambtaeryeong Police Substation in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, following a report that "a vehicle without wheels is moving around."

During police questioning, Mr. A reportedly stated, "While returning home to Hwaseong from Gangnam-gu, Seoul, I argued with Mr. B because he could not find the way properly," and "The crime occurred during the ensuing fight."

Three weapons were found in Mr. A's bag at the time of the incident. Mr. A claimed that he usually carried them for self-protection because he is easily frightened.

The two residents struck by the vehicle driven by Mr. A were transported to the hospital for treatment and are currently not in life-threatening condition. Based on a negative result from a preliminary drug test, the police are also investigating Mr. A's history of psychiatric treatment.