Live After Quit

“2 Hospital Gunshots Spark Hostage Standoff at Japanese Post Office

Drama unfolded this morning in Hyogo City, Japan following the suspected shooting at a nearby hospital. According to police, a male suspect barricaded himself inside Japan Post’s local office. Two staff members at the hospital were said to have been wounded, though the extent of their injuries has yet to be publicly revealed. The suspect was later identified as a 48-year-old local man. It was initially believed the man had first barricaded himself inside a nearby bank, but the police eventually tracked him down to the post office where he has been contained for hours. Special police forces responded to the scene and started negotiations with the man in order to make him surrender. The area where the shooting occurred, a shopping street and a small park, was cordoned off while negotiation attempts were underway. Nearby residents were warned to stay alert as the situation unfolded. The incident forced the evacuation of several nearby buildings, including the hospital, and schools in the vicinity. The Japan Post office was also closed following the suspect’s barricading of its premises. At this time, details regarding how the shooting started and the motives of the suspect are still unclear. Police are continuing their investigation. The situation was brought to a successful resolution after nearly nine hours of negotiation, and the suspect is now in police custody. While the two wounded people are both in stable condition, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under official investigation. This incident has caused shock and fear among the local community, and has been a reminder of the increasing violence that is occurring across the country.