Shinzo Abe Assassinated at Campaign Stop

Today, the former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, was shot and killed during a campaign speech. According to ABC News, Abe was only minutes into his speech in Nara, ” when he was shot from behind.”.

Shinzo Abe was reportedly airlifted to Nara Medical University Hospital immediately, but hospital officials reported his “heart had already stopped and he had no vital signs. He was later pronounced dead”. ABC News reported that the former prime minister was shot twice on the right side of his neck. A bullet had already “traveled to Abe’s heart”, causing respondents to be unable to resuscitate him. The gunman has been identified as 41 year old Tetsuya Yamagami, and his shotgun, which was handmade, has been found. While there is no clear motive as to why the assasination occurred, it is believed that the gunman simply did not support the former prime minister, therefore, wanted to kill him. Abe was 67 years old, and was campaigning for the upcoming elections.