Father kills his son with a homemade gun at his own birthday party, sets up bombs in his apartment

The motive behind the father who shot and killed his son was revealed.

It was revealed that the motive behind the shooting was family discord. On July 20, a man in his 30s was shot by his father in his 60s. The incident occurred during the father's birthday party, which the son had planned.

On July 21, Park Sang Jin, chief of the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station, stated in a briefing, "According to the suspect's statement, the motive for the crime was a conflict within the family." He added, "The suspect is currently refusing to provide further details."

The father (age 63) was arrested on July 20 around 9:31 PM at his son's apartment on the 33rd floor of a building in Sondo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. He shot and killed his son using a homemade firearm and is being investigated for murder and related charges.

At the time of the incident, the son was hosting a birthday party for the father with his wife, two children, and acquaintances.

Chief Park explained, "During the party, the suspect briefly left, saying he'd return. Then he came back with a homemade gun he had stored in his car and shot the victim twice in the abdomen, killing him."

According to the police, the father shot three shotgun shells in total. Two hit the victim and one struck the door. It has yet to be determined whether the shot that hit the door was aimed deliberately or missed the intended target.

The police received an emergency call from the wife who reported, "My father-in-law shot my husband with a gun," and immediately dispatched the violent crimes unit, the SWAT team, and firefighters to the scene. The suspect fled the scene after a brief standoff with the police. About three hours after the incident, at around 12:15 AM, the suspect was found driving near the Mantaeryeong Police Station in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. The police blocked the road and arrested him on the spot.

Chief Park elaborated, "During the arrest, we obtained a confession that the suspect had set up a homemade bomb with flammable substances at his home. He confessed that the bomb was to be detonated at 12 PM using a timer. The SWAT team removed the hazardous materials, and we evacuated 105 people, including 69 residents and 36 people in nearby shops."

A police official explained that the suspect likely installed the homemade bomb out of despair, assuming he would never return home. Additionally, the homemade gun used in the crime consisted of a single handle attached to three long barrels, each capable of holding one shotgun shell.

The shells used were hunting-type buckshot, containing multiple steel balls in one casing. When fired, the balls scatter, sticking a wide area. Police said each ball is roughly the size of a large BB pellet.

During his arrest, 11 metal pipes intended to be used as gun barrels were found in the suspect's car, some of which were already loaded with shotgun shells. The police also discovered 86 unused shotgun shells.

The suspect told investigators that he had purchased the shells about 20 years ago while contemplating suicide and had stored them in a warehouse. He claimed to have bought them from someone with a legal firearm license. In his statement to the police, the suspect said, "I cut the metal pipes to appropriate lengths after purchasing them and built the gun myself. The bullets/shells used were ones I had long possessed." Regarding the homemade bomb in his apartment, he stated that he "researched and prepared them before leaving the house on the day of the incident."

According to the police, about 15 PET bottles filled with paint thinner, a flammable solvent, were found in his home. The bottles were connected to each other.

The police plan to request a detention warrant for the suspect on charges of murder and violating the Firearms, Knives, and Explosive Safety Control Act. A criminal profiler will also be brought in to analyze the suspect's behavior and assist in the ongoing investigation. 

The suspect has no prior record related to firearms or mental illness. He was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime, and a rapid drug test came back negative.

An autopsy of the victim has been requested from the National Forensic Service to determine the exact cause of death. Psychological support and trauma counseling will be provided to the victim's surviving family members.