The Taipei and Taoyuan city governments yesterday said they would apply to enshrine at Taoyuan Martyrs’ Shrine a 57-year-old man who died trying to stop a knife-wielding attacker during a rampage in Taipei last week.
Twenty-seven-year-old Chang Wen (張文) on Friday evening launched a series of attacks at Taipei Main Station and near MRT Zhongshan Station, involving smoke grenades and a knife, leaving four people dead, including himself, and at least 11 others injured.
Among the victims was Yu Chia-chang (余家昶), a Taoyuan resident who tried to stop Chang’s assault near Exit M7 of Taipei Main Station. Yu was seriously wounded as a result and later died.
Photo: CNA
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city would award Yu a posthumous commendation and assist his family in applying for a central government citation.
Chiang added that compensation for victims would come from multiple channels, including insurance payouts, crime victim protection funds and municipal programs.
In the days since the attack, mourners have left flowers and handwritten notes near Exit M7 and outside Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store near MRT Zhongshan Station.
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Photo: CNA
Some cards expressed gratitude for Yu’s courage, including one from a high-school student who wrote that his actions had brought “a gentle sense of protection” to a route students travel every day.
Friends remembered Yu as a warm, charismatic and knowledgeable family man who commuted daily between Taoyuan and Taipei and was always ready to help others.
One friend wrote on social media that Yu gave his life to protect others, and called for his bravery to be remembered.
Yu is survived by his wife and two daughters, Taoyuan Department of Social Welfare Director Chen Pao-min (陳寶民) said.
Another of those killed was a 37-year-old man who worked at Mega International Commercial Bank.
He was on the fourth floor of the department store when he encountered Chang, who attacked him with a knife, police said.
The bank said in a statement yesterday that all of its staff were deeply saddened by the death of their colleague and are assisting his family with funeral arrangements and financial matters.
Another of those killed was a 37-year-old security guard who was riding a motorcycle to work at the time of the attacks.
At first, the man was unaware of what was going on, and even kindly stopped to let Chang pass first, but when their eyes met, Chang attacked the man, police said.
Additional reporting by Wang Kuan-jen
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