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1.31.2017

Chinese grandpa fatally shot while playing Pokemon Go

60-year-old Jiansheng Chen was shot and killed by neighborhood security guard while sitting in his minivan.



You've got to be kidding me. Last week in southeast Virginia, a 60-year-old grandfather was apparently playing Pokemon Go when he was shot and killed during a fatal altercation with a neighborhood security guard.

Chesapeake man shot, killed by security guard while in minivan a half mile from his home

Jiansheng Chen was sitting in his minivan, playing the popular augmented reality game on his smartphone late Thursday in Chesapeake's River Walk community when he was confronted by a security guard. According to police, an altercation ensued, and the guard fired his gun at the car several times, killing Chen.




According to Greg Sandler, the attorney representing Chen's family, the incident may have escalated partially because of a language barrier. Chen only spoke Mandarin. That doesn't really explain why this unnamed security guard had to unload his gun on Mr. Chen, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"I cannot imagine what could have justified shooting through the front windshield of Mr. Chen's van five times," Sandler told WTKR.

Chen's family says he played Pokemon Go to bond with his children and grandchildren. He and his relatives had just celebrated on the eve of Chinese New Year, when he stepped out to catch some Pokemon in the neighborhood. There was apparently a Pokemon gym at the location where he was gunned down.

The River Walk Community Association said in a statement that they "have a contract for unarmed roving patrol services for the common areas of the community." So... why the hell was this security guard carrying a gun?

The security guard is an employee of Citywide Protection Services. Police have not released his identity because no charges have been filed, but the case is still active and under investigation.

More here: Attorney: 60-year-old Chesapeake man shot, killed while playing Pokémon Go