Man fatally shot by police after car chase was on wanted list

Three bullets hit Ishibashi in the chest and shoulder, and one missed.

So, this man was unarmed? And the police use deadly force, hitting with three shots... Good thing the shot that missed didn't hit any bystander.

At least the chase and shooting apparently did not involved any innocent bystanders, judging by the actions of the criminal he was desperate enough to put in danger other people.

Still, a woman stabbed on the street, a mother killed by her daughter and a criminal shot by the police all in the same day, definitely not a normal news day in Japan.

So, this man was unarmed? 

He demonstrated to be willing to ram his car into other vehicles to escape, that means he was a danger for others, as described by the article the use of deadly force seems justified.

I have no idea about the Japanese police force's rules regarding use of deadly force, and the protocols thereafter, but...

I hope these officers are stood down while an investigation takes place. At first glance it seems they were justified; a suspect fleeing arrest in a stolen vehicle rams their car, giving them reasonable cause to fear for their lives. The article doesn't say if he was armed or not, but I'm guessing he wasn't, here in Japan. However, they weren't in the vehicle at the time, and might it have been more prudent to let him drive away and simply continue the chase. To that point, one of the bullets missed and could have hit a bystander. Although I guess it probably hit the car as the other three landed.

Also, does the fact that he was on a wanted list mean that he didn't enjoy the presumption of innocence?

The Japanese Police don't have much experience with using their guns. Or using their Police cars to do a simple maneuver to stop the automobile the criminal is in. Shooting the tires would have been a good idea as well. So to shoot him dead was a rookie mistake at best.

Time to get some real training by an American Police Officer on how to outperform the criminal without killing someone.

Wow, each cop only shot twice! If this was the US, they each would have completely unloaded their gun; and maybe reloaded and continue shooting.

So, this man was unarmed?

I guess one could argue he was using his car as a weapon, though it was just an Aqua...

@ Michael machida

pick any police force in the world but not the American police force. You couldn’t have picked a worse one

Man there are some real armchair generals in here.

I heard it would’ve been good if they did a backflip and landed on the roof of the car so they could reach inside and pull him out.

do you believe someone’s life could be in danger, if yes you are permitted to use the force required to stop this.

Amazing how the front of the police car didn’t seem to have a scratch on it. Both of the red flashing lights on the front were working after it had been ‘rammed’….one of the police actually fired three shots, he narrowly missed his own foot when he was trying to holster his gun with his third shot.

do you believe someone’s life could be in danger, if yes you are permitted to use the force required to stop this.

Right, but is 'could be in danger' enough to justify deadly force? I mean, by that logic, cops could shoot people for speeding because they 'could' cause an accident down the road. If you believe someone's life is in danger then by all means, deploy deadly force.

And yes, it would have been good if they'd backflipped onto the roof.

So next time you steal a car wear a bulletproof vest.

Amazing how the front of the police car didn’t seem to have a scratch on it. Both of the red flashing lights on the front were working after it had been ‘rammed’….one of the police actually fired three shots, he narrowly missed his own foot when he was trying to holster his gun with his third shot.

Where's that information from?

Well, he's off the list now and I don't see anything wrong with what the officers did in that situation. One less menace to society on the streets now.

do you believe someone’s life could be in danger, if yes you are permitted to use the force required to stop this.

Right, but is 'could be in danger' enough to justify deadly force? 

Sorry, my mistake. You didn't say deadly force, you said the force required. My apologies.

cowboys in action...aqua cheap car definitely had no chance to escape from police crown and stealing of it was not worth at all...so geniuses at same place

If the details in the article are correct, and it's always a big if when it comes to any police dept's description of the vents leading up to a shooting, the officers were justified in their actions.

Michael Machida

The Japanese Police don't have much experience with using their guns.

They don't. But, when they do use them, they appear to be pretty good with them, considering the few shots fired, and the accuracy of those shots during those events. It's somewhat impressive considering those stubby little .38 revolvers they use.

So to shoot him dead was a rookie mistake at best.

Not if things happened the way they were described in this article.

Time to get some real training by an American Police Officer on how to outperform the criminal without killing someone.

I can only assume you are being ironic. Or, maybe you just don't get any news from the US were you are.

So, this man was unarmed?

he was armed with a car.

Good job by the police officers.

When the Aqua stopped behind a truck at a red traffic light about 1.6 kilometers away

Look, if you’re gonna steal a car, steal something worth going to jail for. Not an AQUA.

Also, if you’re being chased by the cops, don’t stop and get caught at a red. Very embarrassing.

The GENIUS deserved what he got in the end.

Adios Aqua Amigo.

Well done police.... they should do this more often. Bozozoku...? two warnings to stop, then live rounds.

@Fredrik What part of the article you didn't understand? Didn't he use deadly force? So using a car to ram a police vehicle means the man was unarmed? No from the point he backed his car in reverse and rammed the police car that is when his vehicle became a deadly weapon of choice. I agree Good thing the shot that missed didn't hit any bystander but the others rounds hit the target! Kenta Ishibashi didn't value life if he did he would have STOPPED when asked. Personally this guy was nothing but a career criminal.

Kenta Ishibashi, was asked to pull over by police after they spotted the stolen vehicle.

Instead, he drove off with the police car in pursuit. When the Aqua stopped behind a truck at a red traffic, the police officers got out of their car and walked toward it.

Ishibashi then reversed his car and rammed the police vehicle.

It was at this point that both officers fired two shots each.

Three bullets hit Ishibashi in the chest and shoulder, and one missed.

*So, this man was unarmed? And the police use deadly force, hitting with three shots... Good thing the shot that missed didn't hit any bystander.*

@Mr Kipling

Sounds like a plan.

Well, if you dare to ram a police car, then you deserve to be fire upon. Police risk their life everyday, but that doesn't mean they have to throw their lives away for people who are criminals.

Time to get some real training by an American Police Officer on how to outperform the criminal without killing someone.

Winner for best sarcasm of the day

These officers will probably get the book thrown at them, but I for one am glad they put that criminal down. I've seen people driving like maniacs endangering everyone while running from the police. This guy rammed into the police car so there was no guarantee he wouldn't ram into the policemen next. No reason to die at the hands of this low-life.

So, this man was unarmed?

No, he was behind the wheel of a vehicle that he was using as a weapon. He was very, very armed, with a weapon that can kill many.

Time to get some real training by an American Police Officer on how to outperform the criminal without killing someone.

Really???... Reallyyyyy???..

US cops kill innocent and unarmed people EVERYDAY!!..

@fatrainfallingintheforest the report in ‘mainichi shinbun’ has all the details. Search ‘Japan police shooting’ and it’ll come up, there’s a photo of the car without a scratch and also a photo of the flat bullet where the senior officer, a ‘assistant inspector’ just missed his leg/foot when he shot the floor-the third bullet he shot that day.

Gazman,

Thanks. This version of events, from your source...

The pair briefly lost sight of the stolen car in the area's back alleys before spotting it again and pulling up behind it at a red light. The car then apparently suddenly reversed into the police cruiser. The officers exited their vehicle and ordered Ishibashi to do the same. They opened fire, two shots each from the driver's and passenger's side, when he refused to comply.

...makes the case a little less cut and dried I feel. Although it's not clear from the pictures whether that particular police car is the one which was rammed. The rear of the Aqua wasn't particularly damaged either, and those things are hardly tanks.

Anyway, it says there is an investigation underway so hopefully the right outcome is achieved. Of course, that depends on who is doing the investigating.

Still, a woman stabbed on the street, a mother killed by her daughter and a criminal shot by the police all in the same day, definitely not a normal news day in Japan.

totaly agree.

it is very worrying to see a marked increase in violent crimes here.

Using a car as a weapon is unforgivable and the police had reasonable cause (to shoot) after the driver had led the police on a high speed chase.

I assume that the officers gave warning shots though?

Time to get some real training by an American Police Officer on how to outperform the criminal without killing someone.

lol!!

Wow...just wow.

S

Wanted list for car theft ? How many? Where ? Since when ? How ? Last occupation must exist or mention yakuza ...

At lest do some minimum research to make it look like a real criminal.

Sometimes loads of useless details are given and here nothing. Justification of killing is minimal. Any bystander witness of the shootings by the way ?

Michael MachidaJan. 17 05:07 pm JST

The Japanese Police don't have much experience with using their guns. Or using their Police cars to do a simple maneuver to stop the automobile the criminal is in. Shooting the tires would have been a good idea as well. So to shoot him dead was a rookie mistake at best.

Time to get some real training by an American Police Officer on how to outperform the criminal without killing someone.

Sure you want to stand behind this comment on American police and their NON deadly apprehension techniques? Watch YouTube much?