Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Police identify gunman in deadly Saipan rampage
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Police identify gunman in deadly Saipan rampage
AP - Monday, November 23
Send
IM Story
Print
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands – The gunman who killed four people and wounded nine in a shooting rampage on the Pacific island of Saipan was identified Sunday as a Chinese national who was believed employed at the shooting range where the deaths occurred.
Li Zhongren, 42, who killed himself after Friday's shooting spree, left several notes and authorities suspect the violence was linked to his personal finances and frustrations.
The police statement was the first official confirmation of his identity and shed light on what might have precipitated the worst violence on this normally tranquil island in recent memory.
Police also said for the first time that he wounded eight South Korean tourists, and increase from the five police reported earlier.
In all, nine people were wounded at a popular tourist site in what police earlier described as a drive-by shooting.
Santiago F. Tudela, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, sent his condolences to the victims and their families.
"Our prayers are with you all," he said.
Public Safety spokesman Jason Tarkong said a motive is still being investigated by local authorities, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, but it "may be related to issues about money and the suspect's emotional frustration."
Detectives found several notes left behind by Li, who had lived at the shooting range in Kannat Tabla that had been closed earlier this year.
"The notes were left in plain view for police to find and the incident seems premeditated," he said in a statement.
The violence erupted late Friday morning at the shooting range where Li was believed to be working as the caretaker. Two adults, a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl were shot to death, and a 4-year-old girl was critically wounded. They were all residents of the U.S. commonwealth.
Police said Li then drove his white vate to the tourist site where he fired a barrage of shots at the South Koreans. More than 50 tourists were sightseeing in the area known as the Last Command Post in Marpi, a World War II spot featuring remnants of American tanks. A memorial in the area is dedicated to Koreans who fought in the war.
Police believe the shooting was random and that Koreans weren't specifically targeted.
The suspect was last spotted driving toward Banzai Cliff, the site where numerous Japanese jumped to their deaths to avoid capture in 1944 after the Battle of Saipan. His body was found along the edge off the cliff with a .22-caliber rifle strapped around his shoulder.
Three rifles and more than 750 rounds of ammunitions were recovered from Li's van, which he set ablaze possibly to destroy personal identification and documents before shooting himself at the edge of Banzai Cliff.
The van is registered to the previous owner of the shooting range who died about a year ago.
The bloody attack left the island shaken and worried about how it may affect tourism, its economic lifeline.
Meanwhile, church and community groups held a candlelight vigil late Saturday at Saipan's American Memorial Park, for the victims of the shootings.
The most seriously injured South Korean, a 39-year-old man, suffered a gunshot wound to his back and was flown by a U.S. Air Force plane to Seoul for treatment.
Saipan officials have had difficulties contacting Li's next of kin in the past two days and have requested the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles for help.
Saipan is the main island of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which has about 60,000 residents and is about 3,800 miles southwest of Hawaii. Saipan is a popular tourist destination among South Koreans, with more than 111,000 South Koreans visiting the island in 2008, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
___
Associated Press writer Jaymes Song in Honolulu contributed to this story.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Iran releases ex-official on bail in mass trial AP - 2 hours 7 minutes ago
UK-World Summary Reuters - 2 hours 13 minutes ago
Iranian reformer freed on $700,000 bail - report Reuters - 2 hours 13 minutes ago
Report: Leaked UK documents detail Iraq war chaos AP - 2 hours 22 minutes ago
Police: IRA dissidents plant car bomb in Belfast AP - 2 hours 29 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Obama health drive clears key Senate hurdle
Crisis forcing hard-up Spaniards to sell their hair
EU recession over, but sharp contrasts in east
Swine flu vaccine effective despite mutations: experts
First Air France A380 reaches New York
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
First Air France A380 reaches New York
Swine flu vaccine effective despite mutations: experts
EU recession over, but sharp contrasts in east
CERN atom-smasher restarts after 14-month hiatus: official
Obama health drive clears key Senate hurdle
More Most Viewed »
Alcohol helps cut heart disease risk for men: study
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 22 November 2009 Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear sites
Putin backs Medvedev's call for Russia modernisation
Obama health drive faces critical vote
Iraq parliament struggles over elusive vote deal
Sri Lanka to open refugee camps ahead of polls
| International
|
Sri Lanka to release 136,000 Tamil war refugees
EPA: Uranium from polluted mine in Nev. wells
Rocket hits outside luxury hotel in Afghan capital
NC man gets life in prison for woman's fatal scare
Australia issues 'catastrophic' alerts as fires rage
59 and counting: Health care bill nears test vote
Afghan road builder's dream thwarted by violence
Chicago losing glitz when Winfrey goes off the air
China says 42 dead, 66 trapped in mine explosion
Hawaii anxiously watching year-end tuna supply
Atlantis astronauts take 2nd spacewalk of mission
Security forces: Blast near Kabul's Serena Hotel
AP reporter caught up in Stalin family's agony
3 men blow themselves up in Pakistani Kashmir
Italy arrests Pakistanis suspected of Mumbai links
Terror trials differ in civilian, military courts
Elderly US couple pleads guilty in Cuba spy case
Twilight sequel sets new opening-day record
| Entertainment
|
Singer Robbie Williams to court investors: report
| Entertainment
|
Singer Robbie Williams to court investors: report
"Twilight" sequel sets new opening-day record
Losing Winfrey would be big blow for Second City
German auction house pulls disputed painting
Michael Jackson glove among items at music auction
Israel-Palestinian conflict kills 8,900 in 20yrs: NGO
EU recession over, but sharp contrasts in east
Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear facilities
| International
|
American Express takes aim at PayPal with Revolution
Israeli aircraft strike tunnels, arms factories
Swine flu vaccine effective despite mutations: experts
Anglican leader, pope meet amid tensions
China mine explosion death toll reaches 87
| International
|
Austrian sets up online cattle auctions
US 'helps build anti-Taliban militias' in Afghanistan
Colombia's Uribe seeks to ease Venezuela tensions
| International
|
Belgian ex-premier meets party chiefs as hunt begins for new PM
Israeli planes strike targets in Gaza
W.Sahara activist refuses Madrid offer of refugee status
Israeli planes strike targets in Gaza
| International
|
Iran to hold war games to protect nuclear facilities
Pressure for progress at talks on rebel Karabakh
| International
|
Rhodes Scholars named for 2010
Atheist student groups flower on college campuses
2nd autopsy for Malaysian opposition aide: lawyer
Indonesian ferry with over 200 people sinks: police
UC Santa Cruz protesters still occupy building
Biden says Senate handed Obama a big victory
Death toll in China mine disaster rises to 87: media
Groth to play tennis for Australia after citizenship
Passenger charged in fatal stabbing on NYC subway
N.Korean leader inspects security forces
Healthcare bill passes first U.S. Senate test
Korean death row inmate dies after suicide attempt
Obama health drive clears key Senate hurdle
Motown caps 50th anniversary with hometown gala
Mumbai still vulnerable 1 year after terror attack
4 injured in San Francisco cable car accident
Malaysian activist's body exhumed for 2nd autopsy
Separated twins beat the odds
Japanese temple resorts to manga to woo visitors
Top S.Korea think-tank sees 2010 GDP at 8-yr high
South Koreans to get Apple's iPhone this week
IPhone to go on sale in South Korea
Jackson's glove sells for $350,000 at auction
| Entertainment
|
Crisis forcing hard-up Spaniards to sell their hair
Desperate retailers seek holiday season rescue
Motown caps 50th anniversary with hometown gala
International Emmys to honor David Frost
Botswana tries spicy solution to keep elephants at bay
Developing: Senate Democrats Secure Votes To Prevent Republican Healthcare Filibuster
Jacko 'moonwalk' glove sells for 350,000 dollars
Mobile Home Fire Kills 5 In Central Florida
Sarandon gets lifetime achievement award at Stockholm film fest
Smiling on Facebook costs Canadian her insurance
French designer wolfs down US doggy rags
Pope in landmark meeting with artists in Sistine Chapel
Anesthetic Spray Seen As Cure For Premature Ejaculation
U.S. Customs Agents Arrest Man With 15 Lizards Strapped To Body
Thousands Of Bongs Seized in Los Angeles
Georgia Plans To Lay Bulldog Mascot To Rest
Albinos In Africa Being Hunted For Their Human Body Parts To Be Used In Witchraft Concoctions
Iran releases ex-official on bail in mass trial
Crisis forcing hard-up Spaniards to sell their hair
Israeli president plays down settlement work
| International
|
Iranian reformer freed on $700,000 bail
Iraqi parliament fails to reach election deal
| International
|
Former Iran VP released on bail
Overloaded Indonesian ferry sinks; 4 dead, most survive
| International
|
Iranian reformer freed on $700,000 bail: report
| International
|
Ahmadinejad heads to nuclear-backers Brazil, Venezuela
Alleged Iraq bombers offer confessions
Pirates hijack Greek-owned bulk carrier off Yemen
| International
|
Bomb blasts kill six, wound 40 in India's northeast
| International
|
Israeli president to Egypt for talks with Mubarak
Militants could be invited to Afghan Jirga
| International
|
Ahmadinejad leaves for tour including Brazil, Venezuela
Khmer Rouge prison chief anxious as trial ends
Indonesian ferry sinks; 9 dead, some 230 rescued
CORRECTS RI Bishop-Kennedy
AP NewsAlert
Overloaded Indonesian ferry sinks; 4 dead, most survive
South Korea mass murderer hangs himself in cell
Police identify gunman in deadly Saipan rampage
2 bomb blasts leave 7 dead, 52 wounded in India
Indonesian passenger ferry sinks with 242 aboard
Bomb blasts kill six, wound 40 in India's northeast
Suspected pirates kidnap 3 crewmen in Philippines
Afghan official: 5 border security guards killed
India's Reliance announces bid for LyondellBasell
China could grow 10 pct in fourth quarter: report
AirAsia to tap Southeast Asian capital market
Report: Indonesian passenger ferry sinks with 228
Beirut sets out to woo back shoppers
Pistols, Tasers, assault rifles sell fast at US show
Jackson's glove sells for $350,000 at auction
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
UC Students Protest Tuition Hike
Taliban suffocate Pakistan Buddhist heritage
Man Stabbed To Death After Argument Over NYC Subway Seat
Senior U.S. Special Operations Commander Makes Security Visit To Bangladesh
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights