TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police on Friday afternoon (July 15) arrested a man suspected of shooting five employees at a biotechnology company in central Taiwan.
On Thursday evening (July 14), an assailant shot five Kang Jian Biotech Co. (康建生技公司) employees in Nantou County's Caotun Township at close range, killing four on the spot and leaving one in critical condition. The suspected gunman, later identified as 55-year-old Li Hung-yuan (李鴻淵), fled the scene on a scooter and rode to Taichung City's Wufeng District before abandoning the vehicle and reportedly borrowing money from a friend to take a taxi, according to ETtoday.
Surveillance camera footage shows Li riding scooter. (Nantou County Police Bureau photo)
Early Friday morning (July 15), police were able to pinpoint Li's location in Wufeng District and tried to arrest him. However, by 4 a.m., an officer was quoted by CNA as saying Li had escaped.
Later that day, police identified Li's location, this time at a massage parlor on Zhongqing Road in Taichung City's North District. At 1 p.m., a team of 40 heavily armed officers entered the parlor, and by 1:58 p.m. arrested Li after 21 hours on the run, reported UDN.
Spa where Li was arrested. (CNA photo)
When police apprehended Li they found he had been carrying three sets of handcuffs, three guns, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Li had initially evaded police by hiding in a compartment holding the water tank on the fifth floor of the massage parlor.
As police escorted Li out of the spa, he told the congregated media, according to Up Media, "Hello everyone! I killed because I wanted revenge," "I killed five, that's right," and "I have a deep hatred, is it wrong for me to take revenge?"
Li Hung-yuan is arrested by police. (New Reporter photo)
The victims included Kang Jian Biotech Chairman Lai Min-nan (賴敏男); his 40-year-old daughter, who is a director; his 70-year-old brother, who managed the firm; the company's 45-year-old accountant surnamed Chang (張); and a section chief surnamed Liu (劉). Four died on the spot, while Lai suffered a severe head wound and was rushed to Taichung Veteran's General Hospital, reported Liberty Times.
More than eight years ago, Li had a conflict with a female section chief surnamed Hung (洪) over problems operating machinery, reported FTV News. On the fifth day of the lunar new year in 2015, the man allegedly beat the female section leader over the head and body with an iron rod about 200 meters away from the company and reportedly shouted, "I want you to die! I will kill you!"
Items seized from Li. (New Reporter photo)
Hung suffered serious lacerations to her head and a ligament in her hand was injured, requiring four operations. The victim testified that Li was behind the assault.
Nantou District Prosecutor's Office later charged Li with attempted murder. When the Nantou District Court heard the case, Lai, a female accountant, and Liu all served as witnesses corroborating Hung's testimony. However, because Li was able to present an alibi, he was found not guilty.
