Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 67, was shot and killed on Friday while delivering a campaign speech in Western Japan. The gunman, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, is a former member of Japan’s navy.
According to AP News, Abe, who was Japan’s longest-serving leader when he resigned in 2020, “collapsed bleeding and was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Nara, although he was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was later pronounced dead after receiving massive blood transfusions, officials said.”
More from AP News:
Dramatic video from NHK showed Abe standing and giving a speech outside a train station in Nara ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election. As he raised his fist to make a point, two gunshots rang out, and he collapsed holding his chest, his shirt smeared with blood as security guards run toward him.
Guards leapt onto the gunman, who was face down on the pavement. A double-barreled device that appeared to be a handmade gun was seen on the ground.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Cabinet ministers hastily returned to Tokyo from campaign events around the country after the shooting, which he called “dastardly and barbaric.” He pledged that the election, which chooses members for Japan’s less-powerful upper house of parliament, would go on as planned.
American leaders reacted to news of the shooting, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former President of the United States Donald Trump.
From Fox News:
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Bali, Indonesia for a G20 meeting, said he was “deeply saddened about the shooting” and “Our thoughts, prayers are with him, his family, and people of Japan. Very sad moment.”
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said in a statement before Abe’s death was confirmed: “We are all saddened and shocked by the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the U.S. The U.S. Government and American people are praying for the well-being of Abe-san, his family, & people of Japan.”
Former President Donald Trump reacted to Abe’s shooting on his social media platform Truth Social, writing: “Absolutely devastating news that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, a truly great man and leader, has been shot, and is in very serious condition. He was a true friend of mine and, much more importantly, America. This is a tremendous blow to the wonderful people of Japan, who loved and admired him so much. We are all praying for Shinzo and his beautiful family!”
Former Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter early Friday morning to say he and his wife Karen are “deeply troubled to learn of the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.”
Pence continued, “Abe-san was a remarkable leader of Japan and an unshakeable ally of the U.S. We join millions praying for this truly good man and his family. God bless Shinzo Abe.” He shared the tweet along with a picture of himself with Abe.
Continue reading over at Fox News:
BREAKING NEWS: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dies after being shot, state broadcaster says https://t.co/o0XgQIrO9T
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 8, 2022
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