A special police task force investigating a deadly stabbing that occurred last month in Taipei has preliminarily ruled out bullying as a motive, saying that the suspect acted alone and intentionally committed suicide following the spree.
The suspect, a 27-year-old unemployed man identified as Chang Wen (張文), launched an attack near Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan MRT Station on Dec. 19 last year.
Chang threw smoke grenades and randomly stabbed people with a knife near the two metro hubs, killing three and injuring 11.
Photo: Taipei Times
He subsequently died after falling from the roof of the Eslite Spectrum Nanxi department store near Zhongshan Station.
Following the attack, prosecutors and police formed a special task force to investigate financial flows, Chang’s planning and his social connections.
The fall was not an accident, but a deliberate jump to avoid prosecution, the task force said in its initial findings yesterday.
No suspicious financial transactions or accomplices were identified during the probe, police said.
Chang spent about 18 months planning the attack, indicating premeditation, they said.
Data recovered from Chang’s cloud storage revealed a meticulous plan that he followed step-by-step, but no final escape route was found, further confirming that he acted alone, they said.
Evidence suggests that he systematically purchased a range of items, including gas masks, smoke bombs, fuel containers, gas canisters and methanol, with money provided by his family, they said.
Before carrying out the attack, Chang burned a laptop computer and other items in his rented residence, leaving only a small amount in his bank account, the investigation found.
He chose a department store rooftop for his escape route, and based on the angle of his fall, investigators determined it was not an accidental slip, but an attempt to hinder the subsequent police investigation.
The task force also reviewed Chang’s educational background, military service and work history.
Police noted that Chang’s older brother had left a card on a message wall at Taipei Main Station apologizing to the victims’ families.
The wording of the message subtly suggested possible bullying at school and during military service, police said.
Police said they conducted in-depth interviews at National Formosa University, where Chang studied, the air force radio communications unit in which he served and the security company where he later worked.
The initial investigation suggested that he was not subjected to bullying at school or during military service, indicating that other factors may have contributed to his premeditated crime, police said.
University faculty members and close classmates described Chang as mild-mannered and said he got along well with others, they said.
While examining Chang’s military service record, police discovered that during his time as a volunteer serviceman, he repeatedly asked how he could be discharged without facing severe disciplinary action.
He was ultimately removed from service after reporting himself for drunk driving, compensating the Ministry of National Defense tens of thousands of New Taiwan dollars before being formally discharged, police said.
At work, Chang’s former supervisor at a security firm said his performance was normal, with limited interaction with colleagues due to the nature of the job, they said.
Police believe family factors and excessive self-imposed pressure led to a distorted mindset, ultimately resulting in self-destruction.
Police said that Chang came from a family of high academic and professional standing — his father and brother are engineers, and his mother an accountant.
However, the investigation revealed a deep rift between the siblings.
Chang and his brother had not been in contact for five years, police said, concluding that many of the brother’s online statements were based on his own speculation.
Police believe a key turning point in Chang’s life stemmed from his perception that his personal achievements fell short of expectations.
After prolonged psychological frustration, he became increasingly withdrawn and ultimately chose an extreme and destructive course of action, they said, ruling out external instigation.
A final report is expected to be released shortly, they said.
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