Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot twice before he fell to the ground and was confirmed dead in hospital hours later.

The crime took place at a rally in the city of Nara, about 500 kilometers from Tokyo.

Immediately after the attack, security forces neutralized the suspect, who was taken into custody by the police.

Japan and the world are in shock at the crime committed in a country where access to weapons is extremely limited and deaths from firearms are rare.

That’s why many wonder who the prime suspect is, what motives he might have for attacking Abe, and how he got the murder weapon.

Possible former member of the defense forces

The suspect was identified as 41-year-old Nara resident Tetsuya Yamagami, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Around 11:30 am (local time), footage shows the man in a gray shirt and brown pants approaching Abe from behind.

He shoots at least twice, and a cloud of smoke and horrified witnesses can be seen throwing themselves to the ground.

According to eyewitnesses, Abe collapsed to the ground, bleeding visibly, and began receiving CPR.

NHK reported that following the suspect’s arrest, he told police he was “tired of the former prime minister and targeted Abe with the intent to kill him”.

He also reportedly told officials that he “did not hold a grudge against the former prime minister’s political beliefs”.

According to local media reports, the suspect is a former member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces, the Japanese equivalent of the Navy.

Which weapon is used?

According to public broadcaster NHK, the suspect used a homemade weapon.

Although the police had no knowledge of the matter, a weapon matching eyewitness descriptions was found on the ground after the attack.

Police found numerous potentially explosive devices during a search of Yamagami’s home. Local media reported that bomb disposal experts were preparing to carry out a controlled explosion in the area.

How did he get the gun?

The BBC’s Tokyo correspondent, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, reported that the information obtained so far indicates that the suspect apparently made his own weapon.

Abe had a security team. However, despite this, it seems that the suspect managed to get within a few meters of the former prime minister without breaking any security barriers.

The attack on such an important person deeply shook a country that prided itself on its security.

Death of former prime minister

Abe, who was taken to the hospital after the attack, did not survive.

The Japan Fire and Disaster Agency confirmed that Abe had a gunshot wound to the right side of his neck and subcutaneous hemorrhage on the left side of his chest.

At a press conference, a doctor said the team spent four and a half hours treating Abe. He confirmed that Abe had arrived with two wounds, one on his neck and large enough to reach the heart. No bullets were found during the operation.

According to reports, the former prime minister showed no vital signs when he arrived at the hospital and suffered a heart attack at the crime scene.

Abe was giving a speech in support of candidate Kei Sato, current Upper House member and candidate for re-election in Nara.

Limited access to weapons

The process of legally owning a gun in Japan is extremely difficult.

While there are some exceptions, including hunting, applicants for licenses are subject to psychological, drug use and criminal record checks.

In addition, anyone who wants to own a gun must attend a day-long training, take a written exam and pass the marksmanship exams.

According to the Small Arms Survey, which tracks this type of violence globally, there were 32 deaths attributed to firearms in Japan in 2020. Japan has about 125 million inhabitants.

– The text was originally published at https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/internacional-62097428.