:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(697x399:699x401)/japanese-police-Shinjuku-district-tokyo-2025-031425-5521691430ec4dc2a38444eca4fd4c35.jpg?ssl=1 "YouTuber Stabbed to Dying Throughout Livestream By Man Who Acknowledged Constructing Behind Her, Police Say")
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Police have arrested a suspect within the stabbing demise of a YouTuber who was tracked down and attacked throughout her livestream in Tokyo.
Kenichi “Kenji” Takano, 42, was taken into police custody in reference to the stabbing demise of 22-year-old Airi Sato, Japan’s Kyodo Information reported Wednesday, March 12, citing the Metropolitan Police Division.
The Yomiuri Shimbun by way of AP
Sato was reportedly strolling by herself whereas she livestreamed in Shinjuku Ward when the assault occurred round 9:50 a.m. on Tuesday, March 11.
In keeping with CBS Information and the New York Occasions, viewers on Sato’s livestream heard her screaming for assist earlier than the connection went darkish.
No less than two witnesses spoke with authorities, with one telling police the screaming lasted round 15 seconds. One other mentioned she noticed a person carrying a black hat attacking the sufferer, per Kyodo Information.
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Takano, who was arrested on the scene, allegedly discovered Sato by utilizing the landmarks and buildings in her background to trace her down throughout her livestream.
Nonetheless, authorities don’t imagine it was a random assault.
Police mentioned Sato and Takano turned acquainted with one another in 2021 and he’s believed to have allowed her to borrow cash from him starting round 2022.
“There was bother. I had lent her greater than 2 million yen ($13,500) however she didn’t return it,” he reportedly instructed officers.
Citing investigators, Kyodo Information reported that each the influencer and the suspect had already spoken with police outdoors of Tokyo relating to the dispute.
Takano reportedly traveled about 60 miles to Tokyo from Oyama after Sato introduced the livestream.
Police mentioned he had two knives in his possession on the time of his arrest, in response to the information outlet. Sato was reportedly stabbed a number of instances in her neck and chest.
She was transported to a hospital the place she was pronounced lifeless.
Takano reportedly instructed police it was not his intention to kill Sato.
