Gunman opens fire with submachine gun in broad daylight in New Taipei City: rival gang factions in dispute

A dispute between two factions of the Bamboo Union saw 11 shots fired in anger in Banqiao District yesterday, and 42 shots blasted into a pawn shop door using a submachine gun in Tucheng District this morning, April 20.

In the early hours of the morning Wednesday, April 20, a teenage suspect, named Wu, and a 24-year-old man, named Lin, met to negotiate with a 20-year-old man, named Hsu, and a 19-year-old, named Hsueh, in a parking lot in Zhongshan District, Taipei City. Negotiations apparently broke down, and Wu fired several shots at Hsu’s car.

Hsu fled in his car, driving with a flat tire until he reached Huajiang Bridge. Hsu then called a tow truck to take him and his car to a location on Wenhua Road in Banqiao District, New Taipei City. At this location, Wu and Lin again appeared, and Wu again fired at Hsu’s vehicle.

A short time later, Wu went to the Banqiao Police Station and turned himself in, surrendering two modified pistols and six rounds of ammunition.

According to the investigation, Wu had fired at least 11 shots in the two incidents.

Police suspect that the shooting was related to a debt dispute, with the disputing parties belonging to the Hongren and Mingren societies of the Bamboo Union.

At around 8:00 am this morning a man was seen getting out of a taxi on Sichuan Road in Tucheng District, New Taipei City. In broad daylight and in front of stunned bystanders, the man fired a submachine gun, unleashing two bursts, totaling 42 shots, into the steel roller door of a pawnshop.

The 17-year-old shooter, named Liu, then went to nearby Daguan Police Station and turned himself in with the weapon.

In a common modus operandi of criminal gangs in Taiwan, both shooting cases involved underaged gunmen, and the suspects will be charged as minors.

Police in Taipei City and New Taipei City have formed a joint task force to investigate the crimes, and the “behind the scenes instigators.”

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