3 Dead after Man Fires Hunting Gun in Nagano

Nakano, Nagano Pref., May 26 (Jiji Press)--Three people, including two police officers, died in an incident in which a man fired a hunting gun Thursday afternoon in the city of Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan.

The two police officers--Yoshiki Tamai, 46, and Takuo Ikeuchi, 61--and a woman in her 40s to 50s were confirmed dead after being taken to hospital, according to local police.

A man, believed to be a local resident, was also injured, but his condition is not known as it has been unable to transport him to hospital.

The man, wearing camouflage, sunglasses and a face mask, is holed up in a nearby house and may also be armed with a knife. According to neighborhood residents, the man is a farmer in his 30s and lives in the house.

His father is Masamichi Aoki, speaker of the Nakano city assembly. Aoki has been confirmed safe.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]