A family dispute allegedly sparked by a low-cost sun-protection jacket ended in tragedy after a 28-year-old man allegedly fatally attacked his mother before falling from a high-rise apartment and dying.
The shocking incident occurred on May 30 in Qidu District, Keelung, leaving both mother and son dead and a family devastated.
According to preliminary investigations, the 28-year-old suspect allegedly became upset after learning that his mother had purchased a sun-protection jacket worth around NT$200 (approximately RM28) for his elder brother.
Authorities believe the man felt he had been treated unfairly and confronted his 58-year-old mother while she was preparing dinner in the kitchen.
The argument reportedly escalated rapidly before the suspect allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and attacked his mother.
The victim suffered multiple injuries to her neck and abdomen and collapsed in a pool of blood inside the kitchen.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after receiving reports of an incident at the apartment block. Upon arrival, they first discovered the suspect lying critically injured near the building after apparently falling from the 12th floor.
While assessing the situation, rescuers were informed that another injured person remained inside the apartment. Officers subsequently entered the unit and found the suspect’s mother suffering from severe knife wounds.
Both were rushed to hospital for emergency treatment but were later pronounced dead.
A post-mortem examination conducted on May 31 reportedly found that the mother had sustained nearly 10 stab wounds, with a fatal injury to the neck identified as the cause of death.
Family members revealed that the suspect’s elder brother was at home when the dispute broke out and had attempted to calm the situation.
According to reports, he repeatedly told his younger brother that he could have the jacket if he wanted it, but his efforts failed to prevent the confrontation from turning violent.
Realising the situation was spiralling out of control, the brother contacted their father and urged him to return home immediately.
When the father arrived, he was met with a devastating scene. Reports said he discovered damage to a canopy outside the building and found both his wife and son critically injured.
Neighbours said they initially thought a traffic accident had occurred after hearing a loud noise, only to later learn that a fatal family tragedy had unfolded.
The incident has left residents stunned, with many struggling to comprehend how a dispute over a seemingly minor issue could escalate into deadly violence.
Police have seized the suspected murder weapon and are continuing investigations to establish the full sequence of events surrounding the tragedy.
Authorities are also examining the circumstances leading to the suspect’s fatal fall as part of the ongoing probe.
