A 41-year-old man shot at him from behind at around 11:30 am when he was speaking in front of the Yamato-Saidaiji railway station, police said. Abe, 67, collapsed to the ground after two shots were heard. He was rushed to a hospital with blood seen on his shirt, a news agency reported.
Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of Nara, was arrested at the scene on suspicion for attempted murder, the police said. The suspect was formerly a member of the Maritime Self-Defense Force.The local media has reported that a night vigil will be held on Monday and his funeral will be held on Tuesday.