Guns and accessories are found at the homes of the two suspects. — Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Police

HÀ NỘI — Two men in Hà Nội have been arrested after reportedly shooting and injuring pedestrians with an air rifle on Nguyễn Thị Định Street in Cầu Giấy District earlier this month.

The men were found on May 6, after one victim of the incident was taken to hospital and had to have a piece of shrapnel removed from his chest.

Speaking to Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper on Thursday, colonel Nguyễn Bình, head of Hà Nội Police’s Criminal Police Division, said that police have detained the two men and are investigating the case on charges of storing a weapon and intentionally causing injury to others.

As soon as the shootings were reported on May 5, police examined the scene, questioned witnesses and searched for the suspects, Bình said.

The two identified suspects are Vũ Tuấn Dũng, 38 years old, residing in Trung Hoà Ward, Cầu Giấy District and Đặng Trần Đức, 46 years old, residing in Đống Đa District.

Dũng told police that he bought the firearm online in early January for VNĐ10 million (US$430). The gun was reportedly sold by a man in the northern province of Bắc Ninh. He also bought 1kg of ammunition from another man in Hà Nam Province.

He usually practiced shooting out of his bedroom window at apartment P14.10 in Building 17T10 on Nguyễn Thị Định Street.

Initially, Dũng shot water tanks of surrounding houses, which were about 100 metres away, he said.

He added that when he mastered the gun and felt bored of shooting birds, he aimed and fired at the road. Dũng said he did not know if he had injured anyone.

At 10am on May 6, after shooting a pedestrian, Dũng saw police so he asked Đức – a friend he met online in 2014 – to pick up and hide the gun.

Dũng fled the scene.

Police later caught Đức when he arrived at Dũng’s apartment to take the gun while Dũng was caught hiding on Trần Duy Hưng Street – 2km from his apartment.

Searching the homes of the two suspects, police found the air rifle, as well as ammunition and other equipment.

Đức told police that he bought the items from online suppliers and had made some guns for sale.

The case is under further investigation. — VNS