Who was the man behind yesterday's knife rampage and beheading in Shaanxi shopping mall?

By Zoey Zha, January 22, 2015

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Details are now beginning to emerge about the man behind yesterday's horrific slashing spree and apparent beheading that took place at Shengda International Shopping Mall in Yan'an, Shaanxi, resulting in two deaths and the severe injury of a third victim.

READ MORE: Knifeman decapitates woman in mall rampage and 'runs around with head, laughing like a maniac'

Subsequent investigation has revealed that the 38-year-old killer, surnamed Sun, came from Anhui Province and ran a curtain-selling business along with his wife on the third floor of the mall. The three victims - two murdered sisters surnamed Li and one injured man surnamed Bai - belonged to a family that owned a rival curtain shop in the same shopping center.

On January 21, Sun and Li were engaged in a quarrel and Sun returned to Li’s shop with a knife, hacking the Li sisters as well as one of the husband of one of the sisters. Both of the Li sisters were found dead and Li’s throat was cut open. Bai was found with multiple stab wounds to his neck and is still in critical condition in hospital.

A witness who runs another neighboring shop recalled that “this was not the first time they had a fight over business, but Sun always appeared to be submissive.” Another shop owner familiar with the killer said that he did not have a "strong character," suggesting that he had long been bullied by the victims.

Police have confirmed that there was also an incident reported last June in which Sun’s wife got into a brawl with one of the Li sisters and ultimately fractured her nose.

Witnesses unanimously described yesterday's rampage as “extremely brutal and tragic.” Sun was apprehended by police on the ground floor of the mall and area traffic was restored to normal around 3:30pm the same afternoon; however, Shengda mall is to remain closed until police conclude their investigation .

[Images via Weibo]

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