The police are planning to request an arrest warrant on charges of murder for the suspect involved in the knife attack incident at a franchise pizza restaurant in Gwanak District, Seoul.
The Seoul Gwanak Police Station announced on September 3 that the suspect, a man in his 40s identified as Mr. A, who sustained injuries from self-harm, has completed surgery and is currently being treated in the intensive care unit.
The police are monitoring Mr. A in the hospital to prevent further self-harm and plan to take him into custody upon discharge, conduct an investigation, and then apply for an arrest warrant on charges of murder.
Earlier that day, at around 10:57 a.m., Mr. A wielded a weapon against two men in their 30s and 40s and one woman in her 30s at his own pizza restaurant. The victims were immediately transported to the hospital with injuries but ultimately died. Mr. A also attempted to take his own life but was rescued.
It has been reported that Mr. A had ongoing conflicts with the victims over the restaurant’s interior design. On the day of the incident, another argument broke out for the same reason, leading him to commit the crime using a weapon from the kitchen.
The police plan to thoroughly investigate the circumstances and background of the crime, including the history of discussions and specific conflicts over store management between the franchise headquarters and the franchisee.
Meanwhile, the franchise headquarters issued a statement saying, "The store involved in this incident opened in October 2023 and has maintained a very amicable relationship with the headquarters, operating for its second year. We understand that the conflict arose between the owner and the interior design company contracted directly by the owner regarding repairs."
The statement continued, "One of the deceased victims was an executive from the headquarters, who visited the store this morning with the head of the interior design company and his daughter (a designer) to mediate the conflict between the owner and the company. Since the start of our franchise business, we have never once forced owners to renovate or change the interior design."
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