Tokyo police have placed 44-year-old Teruyuki Takabayashi on a wanted list for allegedly attempting to kill a 17-year-old high school student [1], [2].
The case has drawn attention due to the suspect's history of violent behavior toward minors and the brutality of the attack.
Authorities said the incident occurred on a street in Fussa, Tokyo, shortly after 7 a.m. on Tuesday [1], [2]. Takabayashi allegedly struck the victim multiple times in the face with an object resembling a hammer [1], [2]. The Metropolitan Police Department is currently searching for the suspect within Tokyo and neighboring prefectures [1], [2].
Investigation records indicate this is not the suspect's first encounter with the law regarding similar violence. Approximately two and a half years ago, Takabayashi was arrested for attempting to strike a teenage boy with an axe in front of his home after becoming angry over noise [1]. He was not indicted following that arrest [1].
The suspect's mother has spoken publicly about the situation, noting that she has attempted to contact her son. "I called (my son), but it says the call is blocked. He should just come forward," she said [1].
Police continue to monitor the region as they seek to locate the 44-year-old suspect [1], [2].
“"He should just come forward," the suspect's mother said.”
The escalation from a previous non-indictment for an axe attack to a current wanted status for a hammer attack suggests a failure in previous intervention or risk assessment. The targeting of teenagers in both incidents indicates a specific pattern of volatility that the Metropolitan Police Department is now treating as a high-priority public safety threat.
