Authorities yesterday defended the actions of aviation police officers during Monday’s gunbattle at the Chingchuankang Airport in Greater Taichung that left one man dead and two people injured, as they increased patrols at the airport.
Amid growing questions about whether Monday’s incident could have been handled differently, authorities released video footage of the incident, which showed the gunshots were fired on the sidewalk and roadway outside of the airport, not inside its lobby as previous reports had claimed.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) questioned whether the aviation police officers involved had received proper training.
Chinese-language media reports said Chang Kun-ming (張坤明), 45, clashed with an aviation police officer surnamed Kang (康) who had waved Chang down for not wearing a motorcycle helmet as he drove his young daughter to the airport. A tussle ensued and Kang’s handgun ended up on the ground, where it was picked up by Chang, who began firing it.
There are differing accounts as to whether the gun fell as Kang tried to pull it from his holster or as the two men fought.
A police captain said riding a motorcycle without a helmet would result in a NT$500 ticket.
“I wonder if Kang might have said words to anger the man [Chang], and if the communication could have been conducted better,” the captain said. “The man had his daughter with him. Given that it was only a minor traffic offense, was it right for the officer to pull the gun on him [Chang]? Once they were involved in a physical confrontation, the correct procedure was to call for backup, not to pull out a handgun.”
Chang was shot by other aviation police officers responding to the incident.
Chingshuei Police Precinct Inspector Lin Ming-yao (林明瑤) said the officers in question had followed proper procedure.
A Taichung City Government official said Chang’s daughter, who witnessed the confrontation and her father’s death, is being given psychological counseling.
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