Solano lawmaker sends condolences after former Japan leader shot
(Still frame courtesy NHK World, Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
A federal lawmaker who represents parts of Solano County is sending condolences to a former Japanese prime minister who was shot during an apparent assassination attempt.
Representative Mike Thompson, who represents southern parts of Solano County, called the news out of Japan “horrible” and sent his condolences via Twitter on Thursday.
“Horrible news out of Japan,” Thompson tweeted. “I’m sending my prayers to former Japanese Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe and his family after reports that he was shot at a campaign event and am hoping for a swift recovery.”
Abe was struck by gunfire during a campaign event Friday morning (Thursday evening local time) in the Japanese city of Nara. A reporter for Japanese public broadcaster NHK said Abe was giving a campaign speech for a local candidate when a man opened fire at least twice using a shotgun.
The man, identified as Tetsuya Yamagami of Nara, was arrested by police at the scene. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.
NHK reported Abe was seen bleeding from the upper body immediately after the shooting and was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance. A fire official told NHK the former prime minister showed no vital signs and was transferred by air ambulance to another medical center. His condition remained unknown as of Thursday evening local time.
Abe served as Japan’s prime minister from December 2012 until September 2020. He was succeeded by Yoshihide Suga, who NHK reported was en route to Tokyo and will address the Japanese people later in the day.
On Thursday, Thompson held a town hall to discuss gun violence prevention and a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened gun restrictions in some states. Thompson heads the House of Representatives Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and was instrumental in the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which President Biden signed into law last month.