Knife-wielding man shot after attacking police officer in Kyoto

I find a shoulder to be a strange target if you want to stop someone, a knee would be much more effective. And before someone says it is much harder to hit a knee, we are talking about a point-blank range...

I'll never understand the j police use of warning shots. They are dangerous and can hit bystanders. Simply drawing your gun and a verbal warning should be enough. When you shoot, you to kill. And yes, Im from the states.

Readers, what goes up must come down and you’ll find that warning shots in an urban area particularly are advised against.

This is common knowledge and practice.

To the down voters can you justify why you disagree?

Good that the suspect managed to be apprehended however warning shots are not only unwarranted but also dangerous.

Giving a warning to shoot is preferable unless circumstances don’t allow it.

well done that police officer. Protected the public and avoided killing the suspect. Not sure if the shoulder shot was intentional but I'll assume it was. Hope he recovers soon.

Background! Background! Background! Your first consideration when reaching for your piece... And here, one shot to the shoulder, unlike the 16 wild shots often used by U.S. police trying to get the fatal "two taps to the chest" while feeling their bowels turn to misuben... kudos to the keisatsu in this event.

Various news articles indicate that attempted murder can range from 6-10 yrs or more in Japan ....

"Upon his arrest on suspicion of attempted murder, Hiramatsu, who lives in the area, admitted to the allegations."

ref: https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/kyoto-police-injured-by-man-with-knife-shoots-him-in-shoulder/

"The officer, who received cuts to his left arm and face, backed off and drew his gun. He fired one warning shot in the air and another that hit Hiramatsu in the right shoulder."

also saw the news here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=44&v=wAEiupKJPWA&feature=emb_logo

I am just amazed that the officer kept his cool enough to shoot the guy in the shoulder.

Short barreled revolvers are notoriously inaccurate.

I can't believe they're still using those old-style snub-nose .38 revolvers.

The article does not state if and when the knife became present, so it sounds more like a scuffle took place. Based on that it is highly possible the officer approached the suspect who was brandishing a knife and therefor the officer may have tried to disarm him, but not all plans go as planned as the last minute.

Had the officers used a net or pepper spray to subdue the suspect perhaps no injuries could have occurred. A gun should be last resort, and taking a life should be last resort.

This why backup is critical.

As for the shot hitting the shoulder intentionally, probably not, unless the range was within a meter. Expert training or not, after being slashed with a knife and while bleeding, the adrenaline was pumping in that cop. Shooting in that situation is nothing like firing your weapon on a range.

The suspect may well be mentally ill; if so, he has been apprehended for his own good. The policeman should surely be commended, along with those who have trained him so well.

@Vanessa, you're right. It's all in the training.

You don’t fire “Warning Shots” Bullets don’t just DISAPPEAR.

Do really think in a fast moving situation you can aim and shoot in the shoulder on purpose?

100 percent of the time? Never. Most of the time hit a spot on the body you decide to hit given circumstances ( not necessarily the shoulder) from close range with training (and timing). Yes. I do. And I am wary of those who give up before even trying to train.

vanessa carlisle

I bet the bullet went exactly where the cop intended too.

And how do you want to decide that "bet"? Do really think in a fast moving situation you can aim and shoot in the shoulder on purpose?

I did once read that the first round under the hammer in a Japanese cop's pistol is a blank to enable a safe warning shot to be fired.

Short barreled revolvers are notoriously inaccurate.

I bet the bullet went exactly where the cop intended too.

I've always wondered what happens to such bullets. I hope they land safely..,

As do we all. But there simply isn't any perfect method of anything. Shoot the ground you might hit a rock and have a ricochet hit an innocent. Shoot a wall it might ricochet or go through and same thing. Don't give a warning shot and you might wind up killing a suspect who turns out to be innocent or just having an episode of some kind. Shoot the suspect the bullet might pass through hitting someone else or ricochet off a bone and same thing. Most bullets fired in the air tumble back down and land on top of buildings or on the ground, at less speed than from the barrel as slowed by air resistance but still at a dangerous speed which can be enough to kill but also just cause a scratch. It depends on many variables.

Good job by the police officer.

Maizuru is such a quiet place too..

Now give him proper mental healthcare.