Korean man shoots son with homemade gun after he stops giving him 'living expenses'

A man in Songdo, Incheon murdered his son with a homemade firearm because he was resentful that his son stopped providing him with financial support.

The suspect, 62-year-old Cho, confessed his motive when criminal profilers interviewed him.

The man has been charged with murder, violation of the Firearms and Explosives Control Act, and attempted arson of an inhabited building.

A happy occasion turned tragedy

According to local media, on the night of Jul. 20, Cho was having a birthday party which his son, in his 30s, had planned.

The son's wife, their two children and some acquaintances were also present at the party.

Incheon Yeonsu Police Station's chief Park Sang Jin said the suspect briefly left the party and said he would return.

Cho then returned to the party with a homemade gun stored in his car and shot his son twice in the abdomen, killing him.

A third shotgun shell hit a door inside the son's apartment on the 33rd floor of a building in Sondo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.

The police received an emergency call from the son's wife who reported that her father-in-law shot her husband with a gun. The police immediately dispatched the violent crimes unit, the SWAT team and firefighters to the scene.

Cho was also allegedly targeting other family members.

The victim's wife said that when she left the room to try and save her husband, The man reloaded the gun, screamed and chased after her.

She also said that the man tried to break down a locked door to reach his grandchildren.

Arrested

After a brief standoff with the police, the suspect fled the scene.

About three hours later at 12.15am, the police found the suspect driving near the Mantaeryeong Police Station in Bangbae-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. They blocked the road and arrested him.

Planning for the crime

The man confessed that he started planning for the crime last year.

His son had been supporting him financially but he stopped doing so last year.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Cho reportedly told the police that his son used to give him "living expenses" but had stopped last year and that he "was protesting because he denied me the money even though his business was going well".

During Cho's arrest, police found 11 metal pipes likely intended to be used as gun barrels in the suspect's car, with some pipes already loaded with shotgun shells.

The police also found 86 shotgun shells.

Cho confessed that he cut the metal pipes to appropriate lengths after purchasing them and built the gun himself. He purchased the shells 20 years ago while contemplating suicide and stored the shells in a warehouse.

Installed a bomb in his apartment

Cho had also revealed to the police that he had planted an explosive device in his home in Dobong-gu district, Seoul.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as reported in The Korea Herald, 105 residents were evacuated from the apartment complex as the bomb squad searched the building.

They later found and safely defused a makeshift explosive comprising gasoline, thinner, ignition components and a timer.

The timer had been set for noon on Jun. 21, but the police managed to intervene seven hours in advance, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

Top photos by Naur and Naver via AllKpop