Four injured after man fires hunting rifle in central Japan

NAGANO, Japan – Two police officers and two others sustained injuries in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, on Thursday as a man fired a hunting rifle, police said.

The man has holed up in a nearby building, according to the police.

The police initially received an emergency call at around 4:25 p.m. about a stabbing in Nakano, northern Nagano Prefecture. They have warned locals that a man possessing “a knife or a firearm” remains on the loose in the area.

Among the injured are two male police officers, another man and a woman, the police said.

The suspect was last seen wearing camouflage clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a mask.

Residents have been advised not to leave home for non-urgent reasons, and children still at local elementary and junior high schools were told to shelter in place.