Tokyo police arrest four teens over stun gun assault and confinement of 15-year-old
In short
Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has arrested four boys aged 14 to 17 from Katsushika Ward on suspicion of assaulting a 15-year-old junior high student with a stun gun and confining him. Two of the four admit the allegation and two deny it. Police are looking into a dispute over a motorbike that preceded the incident.
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Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department has arrested four boys aged 14 to 17, all living in Katsushika Ward, on suspicion of assaulting a third-year junior high student, aged 15, with a stun gun and confining him. TBS NEWS DIG reported that the four are a 14-year-old junior high student, a 16-year-old part-time worker, a 17-year-old high school student and a 17-year-old with no job. Sankei Shimbun said the juvenile affairs division made the arrests on suspicion of violating the law on punishment of violent acts and of confinement. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to the reports, the incident took place in July. Sankei Shimbun gave the date as July 28. The suspects are accused of punching the boy in the face and pressing or holding a stun gun against him in a convenience store parking lot in Tateishi, Katsushika Ward, according to TBS NEWS DIG and Sankei Shimbun, and then confining him for about 30 minutes, according to Sankei Shimbun and Nippon TV News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets differ on where he was held. TBS NEWS DIG said a room in a housing complex. Sankei Shimbun said a room in a housing complex in Horikiri, Katsushika Ward. Nippon TV News said the home of the 17-year-old suspect. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Two of the suspects admit the allegation and two deny it. TBS NEWS DIG said the 14-year-old and the 17-year-old with no job deny it, while the other two admit it. Nippon TV News said the 16-year-old and one 17-year-old admit it and the 14-year-old and the other 17-year-old deny it. Nippon TV News added that the two who deny it also said they used to pick fights with riders of unlicensed motorbikes. [ 1 , 3 ]
The suspects and the boy had a dispute over a motorbike beforehand. Sankei Shimbun, citing the juvenile affairs division, said the suspects had demanded cash from the boy. TBS NEWS DIG said the 14-year-old and the unemployed 17-year-old had demanded money from him over a motorbike in June. Nippon TV News said the suspects are believed to have seen the boy by chance on the day and surrounded him. Police are investigating the details. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The documents give no wider consequences. Police are still establishing how the dispute between the boys and the victim developed, and two of the suspects deny the allegation.
Key facts
- Four boys aged 14 to 17, all living in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, were arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- They are suspected of assaulting a 15-year-old third-year junior high student by pressing a stun gun against him, and of confining him. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The assault took place in a convenience store parking lot in Tateishi, Katsushika Ward. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun gave the date as July 28 and said the boy was confined for about 30 minutes; Nippon TV also reported about 30 minutes. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Two of the four suspects admit the allegation and two deny it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The suspects and the victim had a dispute over a motorbike before the incident. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police arrested four boys aged 14 to 17 from Katsushika Ward on suspicion of assault involving a stun gun and confinement of a 15-year-old junior high student. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Two of the suspects admit the allegation and two deny it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The suspects and the victim had a prior dispute over a motorbike. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The boy was confined for about 30 minutes. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Where the boy was confined. TBS says a room in a housing complex, Sankei says a room in a housing complex in Horikiri, and Nippon TV says the home of the 17-year-old suspect.
- Exactly how the dispute over the motorbike developed. Police said they are investigating the details; TBS and Sankei say money or cash had been demanded from the boy over the bike.
- Whether the boy was targeted deliberately or met by chance. Nippon TV said the suspects are believed to have come across the boy by chance on the day; the other two outlets do not say this.
- The statement attributed to the two suspects who deny the allegation that they confronted riders of unlicensed motorbikes. Only Nippon TV reports this statement.