TOKYO – Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister of Japan, died on Friday after being shot twice by an ex-Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) member while he was campaigning in the western city of Nara.
Abe, 67, was transported via a medical helicopter to Nara Medical University Hospital but was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest, bleeding from his neck and chest. He was confirmed dead by the hospital at 5:03 p.m. due to blood loss.
The gunman admitted shooting Abe with a homemade weapon, and said he had a grudge against a certain organization he believed the ex-premier was connected to, the Nara prefectural police said. - Florenda Corpuz
(File photo taken on May 11, 2017 shows Shinzo Abe speaking at a women's event in Tokyo. Din Eugenio)