Taipei: Two individuals, including the husband of the victim, have been detained in relation to the non-fatal shooting of a Chinese woman in Taipei, as reported by local authorities.
According to Focus Taiwan, the 50-year-old victim, identified as Chao, was ambushed by a masked assailant after leaving her home near Shuiyuan Road on Friday afternoon. The attacker fired two shots, striking Chao in the stomach, while the second bullet caused the firearm to jam. The suspect then fled the scene, leaving Chao injured on the ground. A bystander promptly notified the police and emergency services, leading to Chao's transport to a hospital where she received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Surveillance footage revealed that the shooter escaped in a vehicle owned by Chao's estranged husband, surnamed Chen. Authorities apprehended Chen late Friday at the Tai'an Service Area on National Freeway No. 1 in Taichung, subsequently transferring him to prosecutorial custody the following day. On Saturday, prosecutors secured permission to detain Chen incommunicado, while investigators identified the alleged shooter as a woman named Yi, who was described as a "friend" of Chen.
Yi was apprehended in New Taipei's Sanchong District on Saturday and is set to be handed over to prosecutors. A Liberty Times report disclosed that Yi had been in hiding under the mistaken belief that a warrant was issued for her arrest due to a drunk driving incident. Yi and Chen, who met online, had been cohabitating in New Taipei's Zhonghe District, with Chen financially supporting Yi.
Chen reportedly harbored resentment towards Chao for refusing to assist with his waterproofing business upon returning from China, opting instead for part-time work at restaurants. This animosity intensified after Chao expelled Chen from their home and denied him access to their children. The Liberty Times further revealed that Chen, reluctant to execute the shooting himself, procured a firearm online and took Yi to a shooting range in Tainan to enhance her shooting skills.
In the days leading up to the incident, Yi and Chen conducted separate surveillance of Chao's home and workplace, sharing their findings with each other. On the day of the attack, they lay in wait for Chao and, following the shooting, fled together in Chen's car as previously planned, according to Yi's testimony to investigators.