Bio

Public records and news reports contain little information about Li Zhongren's early life. His place of birth, family background, schooling, and childhood have not been widely reported.

He was 42 years old at the time he became publicly known. He worked as a contract worker at the Kannat Tabla shooting range on Saipan and was living at the shooting range then.

Murder Story

At about 11:21 a.m., a gunman opened fire at the Kannat Tabla shooting range on Saipan. He shot and killed four people there: two men, a four-year-old boy, and a two-year-old girl. A four-year-old girl, the daughter of one of the slain men and the older sister of the deceased girl, was shot in the chest but survived.

He then drove several miles to Marpi. About 60 people were there taking pictures. From inside his van, he fired his rifle at a group of South Korean tourists. Five tourists were wounded, including two children. It is not believed the tourists were specifically targeted.

From Marpi he went to Last Command Post Park, a World War II site. He set his van on fire and walked toward Banzai Cliff while firing along the way. When police closed in at the cliff, he shot himself in the head and died. A search of the burned van found three more rifles and more than 750 rounds of ammunition. The shootings lasted about half an hour. Investigators say he fired more than 40 rounds. A note written by him was found, but its contents were not released.

Five people died in the incident, including the gunman. The named victims who were killed were Enrique Naputi, 30; Richard Borja, 22; Vince Rosario, 5; and Korina Naputi, 1. The gunman was identified as 42-year-old Li Zhongren. Nine others were injured. Among the injured were Dolores Naputi, 4, and Park Jae-hyung, 39, plus seven unnamed tourists.

Li Zhongren worked as a contract worker at the Kannat Tabla shooting range and lived at the range. Police reported he left a suicide note that described his motive as a "business deal gone bad." Officials said the shootings appeared premeditated and were linked to frustration over financial issues.

Local leaders issued statements after the shooting. The governor expressed sympathy for the victims and their families. The island's congressman said the security people took for granted had been broken. The lieutenant governor called the incident unfortunate but isolated. Officials worried about the effect on tourism. Schools across the island were closed for the day for safety reasons.