SFTD -Chapter 125 Campus Gunfire (Part 6)

January 28, 2015, 20:00 — Central Conference Room

It had been seven or eight years since a shooting incident had occurred in Dongnan. The bureau attached great importance to the case, and the Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary Hu, Director Song, and Director Liu were all present. Since Director Pang was not currently with Team Two, everyone from the team was also attending the meeting.

Director Liu tapped the table. “Alright, everyone’s here. No need for formalities. Chu Menghan, report the results of your investigation with Wang Man.”

Chu Menghan took out her notebook. “Both of us investigated the social connections of the victim’s parents. Their social network is relatively simple. After verification, we can rule out revenge as a motive. We then visited the apartment rented by Lin Jiajia and Sun Jingya. There were four bolt locks installed on the inside of the door, suggesting they might have been hiding from something. We also found some photographs in the living room here.”

“At Dongnan University, Wang Man interviewed Lin Jiajia’s teachers and several classmates and obtained a lead. Someone had been secretly in love with Lin Jiajia, often sending her flowers or leaving love letters. Since she never responded, she had also received two threatening letters in the past. Our team also found the victims’ coats at the fountain lawn near the north gate of the school. Following the blood trail, we located where their vehicle had been parked and the site of the shooting. These are the shell casings.”

Director Liu’s eyes lit up. “Xiao Hu, quickly have someone run the bullet serial numbers in the database. Also, your video intelligence work is far too slow—how long has it been already?”

The officer known as Xiao Hu quickly stood up. He was Hu Jianjun, a student of Dr. Nan Wudao and a network expert. Under normal circumstances, video extraction was his specialty, but today’s performance had indeed been disappointing. Everyone looked up at him.

Hu Jianjun’s face reddened slightly. “We’ve let the leadership down. However, just after receiving the order to thoroughly trace the victims’ vehicle route, I was about to run the search when all of the city’s traffic surveillance systems were hacked. A highly complex composite virus had just been cleared. We don’t know if this is related to the case.”

As he spoke, Hu Jianjun clicked the remote control in his hand, and the projector switched to four video clips.

“These are the last four surveillance recordings of the victims’ vehicle. Only the footage at the intersection where the incident occurred is relatively complete. The others have some issues, though I haven’t fully identified them yet.

The vehicle, an orange Volkswagen Tiguan carrying the victims, left the north gate of Dongnan University and sped south along Zhiquan Road. At first, its direction was relatively stable, but after passing the first turn, the driver began to lose control. The car swayed continuously and collided with multiple parked vehicles along the roadside.

In particular, the collision with this Ford was the most severe. Instead of braking, they actually accelerated, causing the vehicle to spin out and crash head-on into a tree. The female passenger in the front seat was thrown through the windshield.”

Director Liu nodded repeatedly. This was more like the Hu Jianjun he knew. Then he immediately thought of what had just been said about the hacker attack.

“Any progress on tracking the hacking attack?”

Hu Jianjun shook his head. “My mentor, Dr. Nan, is still tracking it, but it’s difficult. The email was sent using a spoofed IP from a laboratory. Time-delayed viruses like this are extremely hard to trace.”

A police officer who had just gone out rushed back in. He was Hu Jianjun’s assistant. He glanced at Hu Jianjun and Director Liu and handed over the search results.

Hu Jianjun looked at them and frowned. “The serial numbers on the bullets are incomplete. We cannot narrow down a target.”

Director Liu turned to Zhou Hai, but at that moment Zhou Hai was still reviewing photos on Chu Menghan’s phone. Liu tapped the table.

“Dr. Zhou, give us your assessment.”

Zhou Hai was slightly irritated at being interrupted. He glanced around the room, then gestured to Hu Jianjun. The officer handed over the report.

As expected, the image showed that half of the numbers engraved around the shell casing were missing, leaving only partial digits.

“We can compile a list of all personnel issued Type 92 9mm service pistols within the public security, prosecution, and judicial systems. Then narrow it down to those whose issued weapons match the four remaining digits. After that, filter for personnel over 42 years old. That should reduce the number significantly, right?”

The officer, though confused, nodded and asked, “And then?”

“Then check whose family members have children studying at Dongnan University’s School of Science and Technology. Have them inspect their issued firearms.”

Director Liu nodded. “Alright, proceed as Dr. Zhou suggested.”

“Dr. Zhou, report the autopsy findings!”

“The deceased had visited Lotus Peak in Wulian within the past two days, not together with the other injured victim in this case.

Based on the positions of the gunshot wounds, we conclude that the attacker fired suddenly at both victims. They were hit while turning to flee. The bullet passed through the deceased and entered the other injured victim. Since Chu’s team already recovered the shell casing, we do not urgently need the bullet from the injured victim.

According to the on-site photos provided by Chu, both victims fell on the grass. The perpetrator likely assumed they were dead and quickly fled. The two left a small pool of blood between the lawn and the parking area, and their coats were discarded there.

Afterward, they attempted to drive themselves to seek medical help, but due to physical weakness, they crashed on the road.

The deceased ultimately died from hemorrhagic shock caused by the gunshot wound. The injuries from the car accident were not the primary cause of death.

As for the profile of the perpetrator, I have already mentioned it:

Gender unknown;
A student at Dongnan University;
Computer science major or highly skilled in computers;
Familiar with the victims’ daily routines;
Had conflict or competition with them;
Has a direct family member in the public security, prosecution, or judicial system, with access to Type 92 9mm firearms.”

Everyone was already taking notes when Zhou Hai gave the perpetrator profile. After hearing the final points, they all nodded. These were indeed points he had mentioned earlier, but putting them together made the case much clearer.

At that moment, the young officer rushed in again. Seeing everyone silent, he hesitated. Director Liu waved him in.

“Don’t just stand there—come in and speak!”

The officer quickly entered and plugged a USB drive into the computer. The projector immediately displayed information on more than thirty individuals.

Director Song and Secretary Hu leaned forward to examine it closely.

“Secretary Hu, should we have someone urgently verify the firearm status of these thirty-plus individuals?”

Director Liu leaned in. “Secretary Hu, this matter is urgent and cannot be delayed past tonight. Otherwise, we can’t imagine how much worse it could become.”

Zhou Hai stood up. “Sorry, may I interrupt?”

Director Song gestured. “Go ahead.”

“For public security, prosecution, and judicial personnel, where are their service weapons usually stored?”

Several people looked at each other, somewhat puzzled. Secretary Hu thought for a moment and replied: “Police officers carry them on their person. In the public security, prosecution, and judicial systems, they are usually locked in dedicated firearm safes in the office. Only judicial police carry them on their person…”

He paused.

“Wait… I understand what you mean now.”