Replica Guns, Knives Found at Home of Toyama Attack Suspect

June 29, 2018

Toyama- More than 10 replica guns, several knives and a mock sword have been found at the home of a suspect in the murders of a policeman and a school security guard in Toyoma Prefecture on Tuesday, police sources said Friday.

The prefectural police are investigating any link between the suspect's keen interest in weapons and his use of a gun that he took from the police officer to kill the school guard.

The confiscated items, including a replica rifle and machine gun, were discovered at the home of the 21-year-old suspect, Keita Shimazu, a former member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, during a search by the police on Wednesday, according to the sources.

Over 50 books that may have encouraged his violent behavior, as well as military goods, were also seized from his home.

On Tuesday afternoon, Shimazu fatally attacked the police officer, Kenichi Inaizumi, 46, with knives at a police box in the prefectural capital of Toyama, central Japan. After taking Inaizumi's gun, Shimazu shot dead the guard, Shinichi Nakamura, 68, at a nearby elementary school.

Shimazu was later apprehended by other police officers. He was shot in the stomach during his arrest. Jiji Press