Police probe motive of Northern Marianas gunman
A Chinese gunman who went on a deadly shooting rampage in the Northern Mariana Islands before killing himself appeared to be suffering financial and emotional problems, police said.
Zhongren Li, 42, a caretaker at a shooting range on the western Pacific island of Saipan, opened fire at the range on Friday, shooting dead four people and wounding a young girl.
He then drove to a popular tourist site, known as The Last Command Post, and fired on a group of South Korean visitors, wounding eight before travelling to another tourist site and shooting himself in the head.
Police found several notes left by Li at the shooting range, police spokesman Jason Tarkong said late Sunday.
"The motive is still being investigated and may be related to issues about money and the suspect's emotional frustration," Tarkong said.
"The notes were left in plain view for police to find and the incident seems premeditated."
The condition of four-year-old Delores Naputi, who was critically wounded at the Kannat Tabla shooting range, had improved and she was listed as stable, police said.
Enrique Naputi, 30, and her sister Corinna Naputi, 2, were killed along with relative Richard Borja Naputi, 22, and Vince Rosario, 5.
The girl's family had been preparing for a birthday party for Delores at a property next to the shooting range when Li opened fire.
A 39-year-old South Korean man who was in a critical condition after being shot in the back was flown to Seoul late Saturday to receive further treatment.
Three of the South Korean victims received gunshot wounds and the two least seriously injured were released from hospital at the weekend, police said.
Another five South Koreans were treated for minor cuts and bruises suffered in the attack.
After shooting at the tourists, Li drove to nearby Banzai Cliff, where he turned the gun on himself.
Banzai Cliff is the site where thousands of Japanese civilians threw themselves into the sea as American troops invaded the island during World War II.
When police arrived, they found Li's body on the edge of the cliff several metres (yards) from his van with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and a .223 rifle strapped around his shoulder.
Smoke was pouring from the van, where Li had attempted to destroy his personal identification and documents by setting them on fire.
Also inside the van were another three rifles and more than 750 rounds of ammunition for rifles, shotguns and handguns.
The commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, Santiago F. Tudela, expressed his sympathy to the victims and their families.
"Our prayers are with you all," Tudela said.
The Northern Mariana Islands is a self-governing commonwealth in union with the United States with a population of about 89,000 people. It lies about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines.
The economy of the islands is heavily dependent on tourism, particularly visitors from Japan and South Korea, and officials have been quick to reassure potential tourists the islands are safe.
AFP
