Anne Anne Kindergarten Stabbing
Mass Stabbing at Kindergarten
CLASSIFICATION: Mass Murder
LOCATION
Kowloon, Hong Kong
TIME PERIOD
June 3, 1982
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
On June 3, 1982, at approximately 1:30 PM, a mass stabbing incident occurred at Anne Anne Kindergarten in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The perpetrator, 28-year-old Lee Chi-hang, first killed his mother and sister in their residence at Un Chau Street Estate before attacking two women in the stairwell. Armed with two knives and two chisels, Lee entered the kindergarten where he stabbed 34 children, resulting in the deaths of four and injuries to 38 others, including a police officer. Lee was apprehended after being shot by police and was later found to be insane, leading to his placement in a mental institution. The incident remains one of the most tragic events in Hong Kong's history, prompting significant public and governmental response.
Lee Chi-hang's actions during the Anne Anne Kindergarten stabbing are often attributed to his severe mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, which led to his insanity defense. Some speculate that the attack was motivated by a deep-seated familial conflict, given that he first killed his mother and sister before targeting children. Additionally, there are theories regarding the potential for intervention or preventive measures that could have been taken to address Lee's mental health issues prior to the incident.
The Anne Anne Kindergarten Stabbing: Unraveling a Day of Terror in Hong Kong
A Day of Horror
On an otherwise ordinary afternoon in Kowloon, Hong Kong, the Anne Anne Kindergarten became the backdrop for an unimaginable tragedy that would forever scar the community. It was June 3, 1982, when a horrifying sequence of events unfolded, beginning in a modest flat at Un Chau Street Estate. At approximately 1:30 p.m., 28-year-old Lee Chi-hang committed a gruesome act of violence that escalated into one of the most shocking mass murders in Hong Kong’s history.
The Rampage Begins
Lee Chi-hang, armed with two knives featuring eight-inch blades and two chisels, unleashed his fury in Room 5274, Block 8, where he lived with his family. In a terrifying attack, he stabbed both his mother, Leung Lai-kuen, aged 48, and his sister, Lee Shiu-kam, aged 17. The assault left them critically wounded, and despite the best efforts of medical professionals, they succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
As panic and chaos took hold, Lee fled the scene, his path of destruction far from over. Descending the stairs, he encountered two sisters, Kwong Sin Ngan and Kwong Sin Chun, whom he viciously stabbed before making his way to the ground floor of Block 9, where the Anne Anne Kindergarten was located.
A School Under Siege
Inside the kindergarten, sixty children, their ages ranging from three to four, were engrossed in a singing lesson. Lee, driven by his inner demons, entered the classroom and began a frenzied attack, slashing and stabbing the young children. The scene was one of unimaginable horror as 34 children were injured, with six suffering nearly severed arms, and four sustaining fatal injuries.
Amidst the chaos, a brave teacher shouted, "Follow me!" Her quick thinking prompted many children to flee outside, seeking safety. Meanwhile, she ran to alert the estate's neighborhood policing unit located in Block 10. The police responded swiftly, with two officers arriving at the scene.
The Pursuit and Capture
Lee's rampage did not end at the kindergarten. He fled to the playground, where he encountered Constable Chan Kin Ming. Ignoring Chan's commands to drop his weapons, Lee stabbed the constable in the chest. Undeterred, Lee continued his assault on bystanders, injuring two men, a woman, and a 14-year-old boy named Chau Fung-kiet.
In a decisive moment, Constable Chan, despite his injuries, managed to stop Lee by shooting him in the arm and stomach. With Lee subdued, emergency services rushed to the scene. A total of 38 injured children were transported to Caritas Medical Centre, while the injured constable was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital.
The Aftermath and Investigation
The aftermath of the attack left the community reeling. Chief Secretary Philip Haddon-Cave and other government officials, who had been visiting the nearby Cheung Sha Wan fish market, arrived to inspect the scene and offer condolences to the grieving families.
As the investigation unfolded, details about the perpetrator emerged. Lee Chi-hang was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a troubling history of mental instability. Born to Lee Chiu-wing and Leung Lai-kuen, he was described as a silent child who struggled academically and exhibited strange behavior. In 1976, he was admitted to Castle Peak Hospital for six months after an altercation with a neighbor. Subsequent treatment at the Yaumatei Psychiatric Centre did little to stabilize his condition. By January 1979, Lee’s mental health had deteriorated further, leading him to threaten his parents during an argument.
In the months preceding the attack, Lee was unemployed and appeared emotionally unstable, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Legal Proceedings and Legacy
Lee Chi-hang faced the legal consequences of his actions, charged with six counts of murder. In April 1983, the court found him insane and sentenced him to be detained in a mental hospital for an unspecified duration. As of January 1998, he remained confined at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre in Tuen Mun.
The tragedy led to significant changes in Hong Kong's approach to mental health and school security. It became mandatory for discharged mental institution patients to attend regular psychiatric outpatient clinics. Additionally, security measures at nursery schools were significantly enhanced to prevent similar incidents.
Cultural Reflection
The horror of that day was immortalized in the 1986 film "The Lunatics" by Derek Yee, reflecting the societal impact and the ongoing dialogue about mental health and safety in public spaces.
Sources
- Man goes wild; 4 die, Wilmington Morning Star (4 June 1982)
- Care versus caution, The Standard (18 January 1998)
- "Teacher yelled 'follow me'", South China Morning Post (8 June 1982)
- Cheung, Donald; Sinclair, Kevin (4 June 1982). "Stabbing horror at kindergarten", South China Morning Post
- Running Amok, Asiaweek (18 June 1982)
- Man kills three, wounds 39 in knife-slashing rampage, Eugene Register-Guard (3 June 1982)
- Mad man's swathe of terror, New Straits Times (4 June 1982)
- Amok kills 4, hurts 42, New Straits Times (5 June 1982)
- Li, Francis (4 June 1982). "Anxious hours for stunned relatives", South China Morning Post
- 1 dead, 17 injured in nursery attack, South China Morning Post (5 August 2004)
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Initial Murders
Lee Chi-hang stabs his mother and sister in their flat, leading to their deaths in hospital.
Kindergarten Attack
Lee enters Anne Anne Kindergarten and stabs 34 children, killing four.
Police Intervention
Police arrive at the scene and confront Lee, who is shot and arrested.
Victims Count
A total of 38 children and several adults are reported injured from the attack.
Sentencing
Lee is sentenced to be detained in a mental hospital for an unspecified period.
Continued Detention
Lee is still being held at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.
On June 3, 1982, at approximately 1:30 PM, a mass stabbing incident occurred at Anne Anne Kindergarten in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The perpetrator, 28-year-old Lee Chi-hang, first killed his mother and sister in their residence at Un Chau Street Estate before attacking two women in the stairwell. Armed with two knives and two chisels, Lee entered the kindergarten where he stabbed 34 children, resulting in the deaths of four and injuries to 38 others, including a police officer. Lee was apprehended after being shot by police and was later found to be insane, leading to his placement in a mental institution. The incident remains one of the most tragic events in Hong Kong's history, prompting significant public and governmental response.
Lee Chi-hang's actions during the Anne Anne Kindergarten stabbing are often attributed to his severe mental illness, specifically schizophrenia, which led to his insanity defense. Some speculate that the attack was motivated by a deep-seated familial conflict, given that he first killed his mother and sister before targeting children. Additionally, there are theories regarding the potential for intervention or preventive measures that could have been taken to address Lee's mental health issues prior to the incident.
The Anne Anne Kindergarten Stabbing: Unraveling a Day of Terror in Hong Kong
A Day of Horror
On an otherwise ordinary afternoon in Kowloon, Hong Kong, the Anne Anne Kindergarten became the backdrop for an unimaginable tragedy that would forever scar the community. It was June 3, 1982, when a horrifying sequence of events unfolded, beginning in a modest flat at Un Chau Street Estate. At approximately 1:30 p.m., 28-year-old Lee Chi-hang committed a gruesome act of violence that escalated into one of the most shocking mass murders in Hong Kong’s history.
The Rampage Begins
Lee Chi-hang, armed with two knives featuring eight-inch blades and two chisels, unleashed his fury in Room 5274, Block 8, where he lived with his family. In a terrifying attack, he stabbed both his mother, Leung Lai-kuen, aged 48, and his sister, Lee Shiu-kam, aged 17. The assault left them critically wounded, and despite the best efforts of medical professionals, they succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
As panic and chaos took hold, Lee fled the scene, his path of destruction far from over. Descending the stairs, he encountered two sisters, Kwong Sin Ngan and Kwong Sin Chun, whom he viciously stabbed before making his way to the ground floor of Block 9, where the Anne Anne Kindergarten was located.
A School Under Siege
Inside the kindergarten, sixty children, their ages ranging from three to four, were engrossed in a singing lesson. Lee, driven by his inner demons, entered the classroom and began a frenzied attack, slashing and stabbing the young children. The scene was one of unimaginable horror as 34 children were injured, with six suffering nearly severed arms, and four sustaining fatal injuries.
Amidst the chaos, a brave teacher shouted, "Follow me!" Her quick thinking prompted many children to flee outside, seeking safety. Meanwhile, she ran to alert the estate's neighborhood policing unit located in Block 10. The police responded swiftly, with two officers arriving at the scene.
The Pursuit and Capture
Lee's rampage did not end at the kindergarten. He fled to the playground, where he encountered Constable Chan Kin Ming. Ignoring Chan's commands to drop his weapons, Lee stabbed the constable in the chest. Undeterred, Lee continued his assault on bystanders, injuring two men, a woman, and a 14-year-old boy named Chau Fung-kiet.
In a decisive moment, Constable Chan, despite his injuries, managed to stop Lee by shooting him in the arm and stomach. With Lee subdued, emergency services rushed to the scene. A total of 38 injured children were transported to Caritas Medical Centre, while the injured constable was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital.
The Aftermath and Investigation
The aftermath of the attack left the community reeling. Chief Secretary Philip Haddon-Cave and other government officials, who had been visiting the nearby Cheung Sha Wan fish market, arrived to inspect the scene and offer condolences to the grieving families.
As the investigation unfolded, details about the perpetrator emerged. Lee Chi-hang was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a troubling history of mental instability. Born to Lee Chiu-wing and Leung Lai-kuen, he was described as a silent child who struggled academically and exhibited strange behavior. In 1976, he was admitted to Castle Peak Hospital for six months after an altercation with a neighbor. Subsequent treatment at the Yaumatei Psychiatric Centre did little to stabilize his condition. By January 1979, Lee’s mental health had deteriorated further, leading him to threaten his parents during an argument.
In the months preceding the attack, Lee was unemployed and appeared emotionally unstable, a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.
Legal Proceedings and Legacy
Lee Chi-hang faced the legal consequences of his actions, charged with six counts of murder. In April 1983, the court found him insane and sentenced him to be detained in a mental hospital for an unspecified duration. As of January 1998, he remained confined at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre in Tuen Mun.
The tragedy led to significant changes in Hong Kong's approach to mental health and school security. It became mandatory for discharged mental institution patients to attend regular psychiatric outpatient clinics. Additionally, security measures at nursery schools were significantly enhanced to prevent similar incidents.
Cultural Reflection
The horror of that day was immortalized in the 1986 film "The Lunatics" by Derek Yee, reflecting the societal impact and the ongoing dialogue about mental health and safety in public spaces.
Sources
- Man goes wild; 4 die, Wilmington Morning Star (4 June 1982)
- Care versus caution, The Standard (18 January 1998)
- "Teacher yelled 'follow me'", South China Morning Post (8 June 1982)
- Cheung, Donald; Sinclair, Kevin (4 June 1982). "Stabbing horror at kindergarten", South China Morning Post
- Running Amok, Asiaweek (18 June 1982)
- Man kills three, wounds 39 in knife-slashing rampage, Eugene Register-Guard (3 June 1982)
- Mad man's swathe of terror, New Straits Times (4 June 1982)
- Amok kills 4, hurts 42, New Straits Times (5 June 1982)
- Li, Francis (4 June 1982). "Anxious hours for stunned relatives", South China Morning Post
- 1 dead, 17 injured in nursery attack, South China Morning Post (5 August 2004)
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Initial Murders
Lee Chi-hang stabs his mother and sister in their flat, leading to their deaths in hospital.
Kindergarten Attack
Lee enters Anne Anne Kindergarten and stabs 34 children, killing four.
Police Intervention
Police arrive at the scene and confront Lee, who is shot and arrested.
Victims Count
A total of 38 children and several adults are reported injured from the attack.
Sentencing
Lee is sentenced to be detained in a mental hospital for an unspecified period.
Continued Detention
Lee is still being held at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre.