Incheon Gun Murder Incident, Delay in Entry Due to Lack of Police Equipment

During the gun murder incident in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, it was confirmed that police officers who arrived at the scene were wearing bulletproof vests but lacked bulletproof helmets and shields, causing a delay in their entry.

According to police radio transcripts obtained by the Democratic Party's Yoon Geon-young's office on the 4th, the Yeonsu Police Station's situation room instructed staff to wear tasers, bulletproof vests, and bulletproof helmets about four minutes after receiving the report at approximately 9:35 PM on July 20.

Seven minutes later, around 9:42 PM, it was ordered, "Patrol cars wearing bulletproof vests should enter immediately."

However, the district police officers who arrived at the scene hesitated to enter despite having obtained the password for the front door.

At that time, a district police officer reported, "There is a strong smell of gunpowder, and there are steel balls. My father is armed with a firearm inside, and a special forces team is necessary."

The team leader of the district police also judged, "We do not know what will happen the moment the police officers enter; we need bulletproof helmets and shields. Therefore, it seems impossible to enter."

When the Yeonsu Police Station's situation room checked the status of bulletproof equipment, the district team leader replied, "We are wearing bulletproof vests, but we do not have bulletproof helmets, and we have shields, but they are not bulletproof." "We are wearing bulletproof vests, but we do not have bulletproof helmets, and we have shields, but they are not bulletproof."

Even 23 minutes after receiving the report, at around 9:54 PM, the team leader expressed concern, saying, "We know the password and can enter, but there is a risk of being attacked by the police officers with a homemade firearm."

Additionally, the police mobile patrol team that arrived later was only wearing anti-stab vests instead of bulletproof vests, and they were responsible only for securing the fire truck entry and controlling the residents.

At that time, when the Yeonsu Police Station's situation manager instructed them to check the ages of the individuals involved, the district team leader urgently requested, "That's not the issue right now. The son-in-law is reportedly waiting in the living room with a homemade firearm. Please hurry and send a special forces team that can suppress him quickly."

The Yeonsu situation room suggested that the police officers on-site talk to the suspect to explore the possibility of rescuing the husband first, but the on-site officer reported, "The informant says that the father-in-law is scary and that conversation is impossible."

In the end, the police judged that suspect A (62) was inside the house without verifying CCTV footage or tracking the suspect's mobile phone location, leading to the deployment of the special forces team. This internal entry took place at 10:43 PM, 72 minutes after the initial report was received.

After the special forces team entered around 10:49 PM, the district team leader reported, "The front door's locking mechanism was broken and open, and we were on alert in case the suspect would come out," and confirmed, "After final verification, the suspect was not found, and there is a possibility he fled before police arrival."

Meanwhile, Mr. A was arrested for allegedly firing a homemade gun and killing his son B (33) at their apartment on the 33rd floor in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, on the evening of July 20.

The police discovered 15 flammable materials, including bottles containing thinner and detergent containers, along with ignition devices at Mr. A's house in Dobong-gu, Seoul, which were set with a timer to activate at noon on July 21.

Through the investigation, it was revealed that Mr. A had planned the crime since August 2024 after referring to YouTube videos and had purchased parts for a homemade gun, conducting experiments on firearm discharge and explosive device manufacturing.

The police concluded that Mr. A committed the crime due to delusions of being alienated, despite actually receiving financial support from his ex-wife and son.

Image Source: A police line indicating that an investigation is underway in front of the home of suspect A, who had installed explosives inside. / News1, Reference images for better understanding of the article / Getty Images, Investigators stand outside the apartment complex in Songdo International City, Incheon, where a gun incident occurred on the 20th of last month. / News1, Suspect A, who killed his son by firing a homemade gun / News1