According to broadcaster ‘NHK’, the police turned out on Thursday after a report about a man stabbing a woman. When officers arrived at the crime scene, shots were fired. Two of the fatalities are police officers. An elderly woman who was injured succumbed to her injuries later Thursday.
The perpetrator fled after the incident. He would have had a shotgun and a knife with him and was wearing camouflage clothing, according to witnesses.
Japan is a country where firearms are strictly regulated. Shootings are rare in the East Asian country.