Kaohsiung’s Xinjuejiang Shopping District [新堀江商圈] erupted at 8:25 p.m. on September 28, 2025, when police fired nine non-lethal rounds at a white sedan that refused a stop. The driver fled yet was captured around 1 a.m. in Tainan. No one was hurt.
Street Chaos at a Peak-Hour Hotspot
At the intersection of Zhongshan 1st Road [中山一路] and Wufu 2nd Road [五福二路] in Kaohsiung’s Xinxing District [新興區], patrol officers zeroed in on a white sedan illegally stopped. When approached, the driver allegedly hit the gas and tried to squeeze through traffic, nearly striking the car ahead, according to multiple outlets. With crowds thick in the shopping zone, officers opened fire at the tires and engine area — nine rounds aimed at non-lethal points — to disable the vehicle. The sedan still tore off into the night. CNA, UDN Video, Liberty Times Video
Five-Hour Manhunt Ends in Tainan
Police expanded a night-long dragnet across city lines. Around 1 a.m. on September 29, officers arrested a 27-year-old man surnamed Lan [籃] at his residence in Tainan. He was listed as a wanted fraud suspect. Investigators noted a suspected drug odor in the vehicle and found a set of what media described as a “K pan,” pending lab analysis. No injuries were reported, though several scooter mirrors were grazed during the escape. CNA
“Suspected drug use and a danger to road users, so officers used firearms according to law.”
Police: Non-Lethal Shots, Big-City Crowd Control
Authorities emphasized necessity and proportionality under Taiwan’s police firearm rules. With heavy vehicle and foot traffic, officers targeted non-lethal areas to stop the car and protect bystanders. “Nine shots at the tires” and no civilian injuries were reported on scene, according to consistent media summaries of the precinct’s briefing. UDN Video, Liberty Times Video
What Happens Next
Key follow-ups include toxicology on seized items, ballistic mapping of the nine rounds, vehicle forensics, and whether anyone aided Lan’s flight. Police have sent him back on the fraud warrant and opened additional probes into obstruction and crash-related offenses. CNA
Why it matters
Busy urban corridors are unforgiving when suspects bolt. The Kaohsiung case spotlights how officers balance speed, precision, and public safety: nine non-lethal shots, a cross-city chase, and a five-hour wrap. It also revisits Taiwan’s long-running debate over police firearms — necessity, proportionality, and transparent post-incident forensics.
| Positives | Negatives |
|---|---|
|
|
Statistics
| Incident time | 8:25 p.m., Sep 28, 2025 |
| Location | Zhongshan 1st Rd and Wufu 2nd Rd, Kaohsiung |
| Rounds fired | 9 at non-lethal areas |
| Arrest time | ~1:00 a.m., Sep 29, 2025 |
| Time to arrest | About 5 hours |
| Injuries | None reported |
| Evidence noted | Suspected drug odor; one “K pan” set — pending analysis |
Here’s what we know — and what’s pending.
- Suspect: 27-year-old surnamed Lan [籃], wanted for fraud.
- Nine non-lethal shots at tires and engine area.
- No injuries; scooter mirrors grazed.
- Toxicology and ballistics still pending.
Zoom-out
Xinjuejiang — often likened to Taipei’s Ximending — runs busy into the late hours, making crowd safety paramount. Taiwan’s police firearm rules center on urgency and proportionality. This case will likely be a fresh benchmark once lab results and ballistic reports land.
Sources & References
CNA — Fraud suspect flees stop, police fire 9 rounds, arrest in 5 hours (Sep 29, 2025): cna.com.tw
Liberty Times Video — Shots fired in Wufu commercial area, sedan escapes (Sep 28, 2025): video.ltn.com.tw
UDN Video — Nine shots at Xinjuejiang, pursuit launched (Sep 28, 2025): video.udn.com
MNews — Deputy chief on lawful firearm use, suspected drug use (Sep 29, 2025): mnews.tw
ENN Taiwan Telegraph — Police cite firearm rules, nine rounds to stop vehicle (Oct 6, 2025): enn.tw
Kaohsiung Tourism — Xinjuejiang Shopping District background: khh.travel
Legislative Yuan research — Firearm use principles and liability analysis: ly.gov.tw; ly.gov.tw