Abe Shooting Suspect Transferred For Psychiatric Evaluation
Japanese prosecutors have sent the suspect in the shooting death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to a detention house in Osaka City for psychiatric evaluation.
Yamagami Tetsuya arrived at the Osaka Detention House on Monday morning about one hour after leaving a police station in Nara City.
The 41-year-old was arrested on July 8 after fatally shooting Abe during a campaign speech in the western Japanese city.
Yamagami is to undergo testing by psychiatric experts at the detention house to determine whether he can be held criminally responsible.
He will be held for psychiatric evaluation for about four months through November 29. Public prosecutors in Nara are to decide whether to indict him based on the results.
Investigations have revealed that Yamagami resented the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, previously known as the Unification Church.
He reportedly told police that his mother made large donations to the group, which ruined his family.
Yamagami was quoted as saying that he initially targeted the head of the group, but did not have a chance to go through with it. He reportedly said he targeted Abe instead as he believed the former prime minister was close to the group.