Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated Friday morning in western Japan while he was giving a political speech. The former prime minister was speaking to a crowd in Nara, Japan, when shots rang out. Abe was “unconscious and in cardiac arrest with no vital signs” as he was transported to the hospital, Japanese media outlets Kyodo News and NHK reported.

Abe was making a campaign speech for the parliament’s upper house before Sunday’s election, reported Fox News. 

The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, was arrested at the scene with a homemade gun. Yamagami was taken down by security after the shooting, reported Fox News. He reportedly told police that he was “dissatisfied with former Minister Abe and wanted to kill him.”

Minister Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.

Reaction to Abe’s Assassination

Joe Biden released a statement saying he was “stunned, outraged and deeply saddened” to hear of Abe’s death. “This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him. he was a champion of the Alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people.”

“The United States stands with Japan in this moment of grief.”

(Unfortunately, whoever wrote the statement used the opportunity to again push their political agenda, tossing in “that gun violence always leaves a deep scar on the communities that are affected by it.” The irony? Japan is renowned for its very strict gun control laws.)  

Former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling Abe’s death “Really BAD NEWS FOR THE WORLD.”

Few people know what a great man and leader Shinzo Abe was, but history will teach them and be kind. He was a unifier like no other, but above all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country, Japan. Shinzo Abe will be greatly missed. There will never be another like him.

Former Vice President Mike Pence tweeted before Abe’s death was confirmed that he and his wife Karen were “deeply troubled to learn of the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe-san was a remarkable leader of Japan and an unshakeable ally of the U.S. We join millions praying for this truly good man and his family. God bless Shinzo Abe.”

.@KarenPence and I were deeply troubled to learn of the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe-san was a remarkable leader of Japan and an unshakeable ally of the U.S. We join millions praying for this truly good man and his family. God bless Shinzo Abe pic.twitter.com/ojTYkOZxe8

— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) July 8, 2022

Former President Barack Obama said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news.

I will always remember the work we did to strengthen our alliance, the moving experience of traveling to Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor together, and the grace he and his wife Akie Abe showed to me and Michelle.  Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan who are very much in our thoughts at this painful moment.

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information is released.