Chinese consulate shocked by Saipan shooting

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-23 09:29

LOS ANGELES: The Chinese Consulate-general in Los Angeles said on Sunday that it was shocked by the shooting incident that occurred in Saipan Island on Friday, reportedly involving a Chinese national, and expressed hope that local authorities would deal with it properly.

"We were shocked to learn this tragic incident. The consulate-general attached great importance to the incident and has been in close contact with local authorities in a bid to get the whole picture of the shooting, and is prepared to cooperate in the matter," an official from the consulate-general told Xinhua.

"We hope to see the incident properly dealt with by authorities in the North Mariana Islands," added the official, who asked not to be identified.

Local media reports said the shooting suspect, identified as 42-year-old Li Zhongren from China, killed four people and wounded eight others before committing suicide with a gun in Saipan Island, capital of the North Mariana Islands, on late Friday morning local time.

According to local police, Li first shot two adults, a boy and a girl in a shooting range he lived at, then drove a van to a popular tourist site and opened fire on tourists and local residents. He finally stopped by a cliff and killed himself with the gun.

Police found in the van several notes he left, as well as three guns and ammunitions. The wounded were tourists from the Republic of Korea.

The police have been looking into the possible motives behind the shooting. They said the suspect expressed financial anxiety and emotional distress in the notes. Reports said he was the caretaker of the shooting range at Kannat Tabla and the shooting range was closed earlier this year.