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Man Fatally Shot by Security Guard in Virginia Was Playing Pokémon Go

According to the lawyer representing JianSheng Chen — a 60-year-old man who was fatally shot on January 26 in Virginia after an altercation with a security guard — Chen was playing the Pokémon Go smartphone game when he was shot.

According to the court files, the security guard allegedly opened fire on Chen five times through Chen's front windshield at 11:00 p.m. on January 26 near the River Walk Clubhouse in Chesapeake, Virginia. The security company that employs the guard claims that Chen approached the security guard from inside a blue van, and that the guard opened fire because he feared for his life. Andrew Sacks, the attorney for the security company, said on Monday the security company has documents proving that Chen and other relatives were told multiple times that they couldn't enter private property.

Attorney Greg Sandler, who represents Chen and his family, claims that Chen approached the location and stayed there due to the presence of a "Pokémon gym" at the location, and that Chen was playing Pokémon Go to bond with his grandchildren. Sandler explained, "A gym requires you to stay put in one location so you can train your critters." Sandler also said that he believes the incident was partially caused by a language barrier.

In Japan, the first fatal car accident tied to Pokémon Go occurred in August, when a 72-year-old woman was killed in a traffic accident. A Kyoto driver was also found guilty last month for causing the death of a woman in a traffic accident shortly after the driver was playing Pokémon Go in traffic.

The Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara said in an interview with Nikkei Asia Review last month that the company and Nintendo are looking into developing a device that will allow the game to be played more safely.

Source: CBS 6 News