Sean Lien - 2010 Attempted Assassination

2010 Attempted Assassination

On the eve of municipal elections November 26, 2010, Sean Lien was shot in the face at close range while campaigning in Yonghe, Taipei County (now New Taipei City). The bullet entered through Lien's left cheek and exited from his right temple. He was immediately rushed to the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei. The shooting is not believed to be life-threatening. A suspect named Lin Zheng-wei (林正偉) was immediately arrested and questioned by the police. He is known to be a local gang member.

Police revealed that the 48 year-old suspect had previously been arrested for drug possession. A 29 year-old disabled audience member named Huang Yun-sheng (黃運聖) attending the campaign event was struck in the head by a stray bullet and taken to Cardinal Tien Hospital in Yonghe where he died from his wounds.

Two different statements were made between the gunman and Sean Lien. According to the gunman, he had mistaken Sean Lien for another target Chen Hong-yuan (陳鴻源) who was said to be in a land dispute with him. Though Chen Hong-yuan has denied this, saying he did not know who the gunman was in a press conference. In a different statement, according to Sean Lien, the gunman called his name out and swore at him before firing the shot.

The media has compared this case to the 2004 3-19 shooting incident when president Chen Shui-bian was shot.