Photo/Illutration A vehicle transporting the Self-Defense Forces cadet enters the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office on June 15. (Tatsuo Kanai)

An 18-year-old cadet accused of killing two Ground Self-Defense Force members and injuring a third was acting strange moments before he opened fire with an automatic rifle, according to investigative sources.

The shooting occurred at the GSDF’s Hino basic firing range in Gifu city around 9:10 a.m. on June 14.

According to Defense Ministry officials, about 120 members of Camp Moriyama in Nagoya were taking part in the live-fire training drill there, including about 70 cadets who were entering the final days of basic training.

The firing drill in the indoor range that day was to have been used as a test to certify that the cadet was qualified to become an SDF member.

According to investigative sources, the suspect was waiting his turn to enter the lane where cadets take crouching positions to fire at a target about 300 meters away.

The cadet began loading bullets into his Type 89 automatic rifle, although no such instructions had been given.

A superior ordered him to stop, but he kept on loading his weapon, the sources said.

While in a standing position, the cadet fired a bullet into the abdomen of a 25-year-old GSDF member who was later confirmed dead, they said.

The Defense Ministry on June 15 identified the dead member as Sgt. Kosuke Yashiro.

According to the sources, after Yashiro was shot, the cadet shouted, “No one move.” He turned the rifle toward Yasuchika Kikumatsu, a 52-year-old master sergeant, standing to the right, and then fatally shot him.

Another 25-year-old, Sgt. Yusuke Hara, was shot in the thigh. He is expected to recover in about three months time.

The cadet has said during questioning that he did not intend to kill the first SDF member, according to the sources.

Police believe Yashiro may have noticed something was wrong and tried to intervene when he was shot.

When some cadets ran from the scene, the suspect fired another shot into the ceiling. Other SDF members wrestled him to the ground and handed him over to Gifu prefectural police who arrived on the scene about 20 minutes later.

Gifu police are cooperating with the SDF’s military police in questioning the 18-year-old suspect and taking statements from witnesses.

The cadet was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He is now accused of murder and was sent to the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office on June 15.

Police will conduct an autopsy on the two dead SDF members on June 15.

The GSDF has ordered a temporary suspension of all live-fire and explosive training drills at its 83 facilities around the nation.

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