Shocking Family Tragedy: 60-Year-Old Father Kills Son with Homemade Gun in Incheon - Dramatic Police Chase Revealed

The Shocking Crime That Stunned Korea

On the evening of July 20, 2025, South Korea was rocked by one of the most shocking family crimes in recent memory. A 60-year-old father, identified only as Mr. A, shot and killed his 33-year-old son using a homemade gun in a high-rise apartment in Incheon's Songdo International City. What makes this case even more disturbing is that the shooting occurred during the father's birthday celebration, with family members including the daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and a friend present as witnesses.

The incident took place at approximately 9:31 PM on the 33rd floor of an apartment building. According to police reports, Mr. A fired three shots from his homemade weapon - two bullets struck his son, while one was fired at the door. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The daughter-in-law quickly called police, reporting that her father-in-law had shot her husband with a firearm.

What's particularly chilling about this case is the premeditated nature of the crime. Witnesses reported that Mr. A had arrived at his son's apartment carrying a large bag, which investigators believe contained the homemade weapons and ammunition he would later use in the attack.

The Dramatic Police Chase and Capture

Following the shooting, Mr. A immediately fled the scene in his vehicle, sparking an intense manhunt that would captivate the nation. Police quickly identified his car and began tracking his movements across Seoul and Incheon. The chase came to a dramatic conclusion just after midnight on July 21, approximately 40 kilometers away from the crime scene near Sadang Station in Seoul's Seocho District.

The arrest footage, later released by Seoul Metropolitan Police, shows the tense moments when officers attempted to stop Mr. A's vehicle. According to police accounts, when officers spotted the suspect's car and attempted a traffic stop, Mr. A began weaving erratically between lanes in a desperate attempt to evade capture. The suspect ignored initial police commands and continued driving, prompting officers to take more aggressive action.

The chase ended when patrol cars managed to block Mr. A's escape route at a traffic light. Officers surrounded his vehicle and forced open the car door to make the arrest. Remarkably, even during his capture, Mr. A reportedly protested to police, asking 'Why are you doing this?' However, he did not resist physically or threaten the arresting officers. The entire ordeal from the initial crime to his capture lasted approximately 2.5 hours.

Arsenal of Weapons and Explosives Discovered

The investigation took an even more disturbing turn when police discovered the extent of Mr. A's weapons cache. During the arrest, officers found that the suspect was carrying additional ammunition in his pocket. However, the real shock came when they searched his vehicle - investigators discovered 10 homemade guns and multiple rounds of ammunition stored in the passenger seat and trunk of his car.

The homemade weapons were described as pipe-style firearms connected to handles, designed to fire immediately upon loading ammunition. Some of the weapons were partially disassembled into component parts, suggesting a level of sophistication in their construction. Police also found 86 rounds of ammunition in total, indicating that Mr. A had been preparing for potentially much more violence.

Perhaps most alarmingly, after his arrest, Mr. A informed police that he had installed explosive devices in his residence in Seoul's Dobong District, set to detonate at noon on July 21. This revelation prompted an immediate emergency response, with authorities evacuating 105 residents from the building. Bomb disposal experts successfully located and removed the homemade explosives, which consisted of paint thinner and timer devices. Neighbors reported that Mr. A had recently acquired a vehicle just 4-5 days before the incident, which they now suspect was used to transport the weapons and explosives.

The Killer's Background and Motive

As details emerge about Mr. A's background, a picture of a man consumed by resentment and planning violence for an extended period is becoming clear. The 63-year-old suspect told police that he learned how to manufacture the firearms by watching YouTube videos, highlighting the dangerous accessibility of such information online. The fact that he had prepared multiple weapons and explosives suggests this was not a crime of passion but rather a carefully planned attack.

According to criminal psychology experts analyzing the case, Mr. A may have been motivated by feelings of inferiority and resentment toward his ex-wife, who had achieved social and professional success after their divorce approximately 20 years ago. The timing of the attack - during his own birthday celebration hosted by his son - adds another layer of psychological complexity to the case.

Investigators are still working to understand the full extent of Mr. A's motivations, but preliminary findings suggest family discord and personal failures may have contributed to his decision to commit this horrific act. The fact that he chose to attack during a family gathering meant to celebrate him makes the crime particularly tragic and incomprehensible to many Koreans following the case.

Community Response and Public Safety Concerns

The Incheon shooting has sent shockwaves through Korean society, raising serious questions about public safety and the accessibility of information for creating homemade weapons. Online communities across various platforms have been actively discussing the case, with many expressing disbelief that such violence could occur within a family setting during what should have been a celebration.

On popular Korean forums like Naver, Daum, and community sites, users have expressed a mixture of horror, sympathy for the victims, and concern about the broader implications of the case. Many comments focus on the ease with which the perpetrator was able to access weapon-making information online, calling for stricter regulations and monitoring of such content. Others have praised the quick response of law enforcement in capturing the suspect and preventing potential additional violence.

The incident has also renewed discussions about domestic violence and family conflict resolution in Korean society. Mental health professionals have pointed out that this case highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs and providing appropriate intervention services for individuals who may be struggling with resentment or psychological distress.

Legal Implications and Investigation Progress

Mr. A now faces multiple serious charges including murder and violations of the Act on Safety Management of Guns, Swords, Explosives, etc. The discovery of his extensive weapons cache and explosive devices will likely result in additional charges related to illegal weapons manufacturing and possession. Legal experts predict that given the premeditated nature of the crime and the extensive preparation involved, Mr. A could face the maximum penalties under Korean law.

The Incheon Yeonsu Police Station, which is leading the investigation, continues to piece together the full timeline of events and Mr. A's preparations for the attack. Investigators are particularly focused on determining how long he had been planning the assault and whether there were any missed warning signs that could have prevented the tragedy.

The case has also prompted law enforcement agencies to review their protocols for responding to domestic violence situations involving weapons. The rapid response time and successful capture of the suspect have been praised, but officials acknowledge that preventing such premeditated attacks remains a significant challenge. As the investigation continues, this tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences that can result from unresolved family conflicts and the dangerous combination of resentment, planning, and access to weapon-making information.

Aftermath and Ongoing Impact

As Korea grapples with this shocking family tragedy, the case continues to generate intense public interest and concern. The image of a father killing his own son during a birthday celebration has become a symbol of how family conflicts can escalate to unimaginable violence when left unaddressed. The incident has sparked broader conversations about mental health support, family counseling services, and the need for better detection and intervention systems.

The technical aspects of the case - particularly the suspect's use of online resources to manufacture weapons - have also caught the attention of cybersecurity experts and policymakers. There are growing calls for platforms like YouTube to more strictly monitor and remove content that could be used for creating dangerous weapons, though this raises complex questions about censorship and freedom of information.

For the surviving family members, including the daughter-in-law and two young grandchildren who witnessed the shooting, the trauma will likely last for years to come. Support services have been made available, but the psychological impact of witnessing such violence within their own family will require long-term care and counseling. As this case moves through the legal system, it serves as a tragic reminder of the importance of addressing family conflicts before they reach a point of no return and the critical need for mental health resources in Korean society.