HOKKAIDO (TR) – Hokkaido prefectural police on Tuesday arrested an organized crime member after a Yamaguchi-gumi gangster was found shot to death inside a hot springs hotel in Noboribetsu City, reports the TBS News (Jan. 29).
At around noon, an employee of the Hotel Yumoto Noboribetsu discovered Takayuki Hirashige, 61, collapsed near an elevator on the third floor with a gunshot wound to the head. After being transported to a nearby hospital, he was soon after confirmed dead.
Several witnesses saw a van containing approximately four people flee the crime scene.
Three hours later, Hokkaido prefectural police arrested gang member Kyuya Koide, 48, for possession of a handgun at JR Toya Station — a violation of the Swords and Firearms Control Law.
“I used the gun in the incident,” Koide reportedly said.
According to separate report from the Asahi Shimbun (Jan. 30), the van was discovered 30 kilometers away from Hotel Yumoto Noboribetsu in Tomakomai City.
Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of gang member Hiroshi Saito, a 68-year-old painter, for aiding in Koide’s escape.
