Vietnamese man, 34, shot dead in Tuen Mun had criminal record, suspected meth

The man fatally shot by police after taking a hostage in Tuen Mun Town Plaza on Thursday has been identified as a 34-year-old Vietnamese man holding a Hong Kong identity card, with about one kilogram of suspected methamphetamine found on him, sources said.

The man had multiple criminal records including drug trafficking, assaulting police and possession of offensive weapons. Officers found about one kilogram of suspected methamphetamine and a retractable baton on him.

Police responded around 7pm after he took a knife from a Donki restaurant. Officers found him outside a plaza restaurant, ignoring warnings while armed. Pepper spray proved ineffective, and he entered the mall to take a female hostage, leading police to fire two shots.

The man was taken unconscious to Tuen Mun Hospital and later died. The hostage was rescued.

Online footage shows a man in white waving a sharp object as people flee, followed by two shots. Riot police with shields arrived as officers kept their guns drawn.

The case remains under investigation.