2 Killed in Shooting at Japanese Military Shooting Range
On Wednesday 14 June 2023, at around 9:10 AM local time, a shooting occurred at Hino basic firing range in Gifu City, Japan (which is located just North of Nagoya). According to reports, during training with live ammunition, one 18-year-old recruit turned his rifle and opened fire on fellow Ground Self Defense Force members. Official statements by the Japanese government have confirmed that the victims were aged 25 and 52- both members of the JSDF. Another 25-year-old victim has been hospitalized with Japanese media reporting that they are in a critical condition.
Details remain scarce; Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told the media that information must be withheld due to the ongoing investigation. Nevertheless, we know that the suspect has been apprehended and that they have not denied their responsibility for the shooting. There is no information regarding their motivation for the shooting.
In a televised conference held the same day, JSDF Chief of Staff Yasunori Morishita announced that there are plans in place to establish a special committee which will investigate the shooting and work to prevent similar incidents from taking place in the future. According to the Chief of Staff, such an incident should never have been allowed to happen within an institution that regularly deals with weapons.
Japan controls firearms very strictly and has some of the lowest rates for gun crimes in the world. Nevertheless, the incident does follow a number of very high-profile shooting incidents in Japan. Last month, Masanori Aoki, 31-year-old son of a local politician killed four individuals, including two policemen, in a gun and knife attack in Nagano. Last year, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was killed with a homemade gun.
The incident also follows the death of 10 JSDF members in a helicopter crash which took place on Okinawa on 6 April.