1995 Sizhan Town Shooting (Zhaodong)

Overview

On the night of 18 November 1995, a mass shooting occurred across several villages under Sizhan Town, a subdivision of Zhaodong, a county-level city in Heilongjiang province, China. Two local residents, 26-year-old Feng Wanhai and 22-year-old Jiang Liming, armed with a double-barreled shotgun and a small-bore rifle, opened fire on 48 people. The attack killed 32 people and wounded 16 others, affecting a total of 37 families. The incident became known as the "Sizhan Town 11.18 shooting murder case."

Course of the Attack

Among those killed were Sizhan Town residents Xiao Hongwei and Bai Huichen, along with their family members — seven people from these two households alone. During the course of the attack, the suspects stole a Type 77 pistol and four Beijing Jeeps. They initially opened fire in Sizhan before driving roughly 30 kilometers northeast to Wuliming Town. They then traveled to Xibali Village, about 12 kilometers west of Sizhan, searching for additional victims but found none there. The two men next drove toward Dechang Village, north of Sizhan, stopping at a location called "Tiancai Stop" along the way, again without finding further targets. According to a statement attributed to suspect Jiang Liming, the pair intended to "do something on a large-scale and let the whole world know," and continued driving through surrounding towns and villages searching for further victims.

Government and Security Response

The incident drew attention from multiple levels of the Chinese government and security agencies. In Heilongjiang province, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial Governor, and a Vice Provincial Governor made public comments about the incident. Provincial security officials, including the Head of the Public Security Department, urged local administrative and public security offices to arrest the suspects. A team of provincial officials, including deputy heads of the Public Security Department and Criminal Investigation Department, led additional personnel to the scene to investigate. Security agencies across the country mobilized to assist in the manhunt.

Resolution

Later that same night, at approximately 9:40 pm, Feng Wanhai was shot dead by security forces. Jiang Liming was injured during the pursuit and, after being cornered, died by suicide by shooting himself. The event is described as one of the deadliest rampage killings in modern history and the deadliest mass shooting recorded in Chinese history.