Saipan Shooting Spree Gunman Was Korean Chinese

The gunman in Friday’s shooting rampage on the Pacific island of Saipan was a Chinese man of Korean descent, media reports said yesterday.

The Pacific News Center, an online media company based in Guam, identified the gunman as Lee Zhong Ren, 42, an employee at a shooting range in Kannat Tabla. He killed four people before turning his gun on himself, leaving a will reading, “Negotiations for business have failed.”

Lee is known to have often expressed discontent after repeatedly failing to open another shooting range in Saipan.

Four of the six South Korean tourists injured in the rampage were returned to Korea Saturday, while the remaining two remained hospitalized on the island.

A 39-year-old Korean man who suffered a serious spinal injury and damaged organs in the shooting was flown back to Korea by a small airplane offered by Guam authorities. Upon arrival at Incheon International Airport Saturday, he was immediately sent to Seoul National University Hospital.

He received a medical examination and underwent surgery to move bullets in his spine and colon yesterday.

His wife said, “I can’t say anything at this point. I’m only waiting to see his condition improve.”

Three other Korean victims, a 38-year-old man and his eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter, suffered minor injuries and were returned to Korea via an Asiana flight that left Saipan yesterday.

yunjung@donga.com