Police are investigating a fatal shooting in the Castle Peak area after officers opened fire on a knife-wielding man who allegedly took a woman hostage outside a shopping mall in Tuen Mun on

Wednesday night.

The incident unfolded at around 7.10pm on January 15, when officers received a report from a shop assistant on Tuen Shun Street that a man had stolen a knife from the store and fled. Shortly afterwards, police were alerted by multiple callers that a man carrying a knife was wandering near Tuen Wui Street, raising concerns for public safety.

Officers rushed to the area and located the suspect outside the entrance of a shopping mall on Tuen Shun Street. The man was holding a 12-inch knife and refused to comply with repeated verbal warnings. An officer discharged pepper spray in an attempt to subdue him, but the man escaped into the mall and later exited through another entrance.

Moments later, the situation escalated when the suspect grabbed a 51-year-old woman and held her hostage, allegedly attempting to attack her with the knife. Despite further warnings from police, the man continued to pose an imminent threat. To protect the hostage, two officers fired one shot each at the suspect.

The 34-year-old man sustained gunshot wounds to his shoulder and chest and was rushed to Tuen Mun Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8.47pm. The hostage was also taken to the same hospital and was conscious at the time of admission.

Police later recovered suspected dangerous drugs and an extendable baton from the man and the bag he was carrying.

The case is now being handled by the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North. Police are appealing to anyone with information related to the incident to contact investigators at 3661 3363. Photo by Tksteven, Wikimedia commons.