Four people were killed and one injured by a gunman at a biotechnology company in Nantou County in central Taiwan at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, according to the police.

The police responded to a shooting at Kang Jiann Biotech Co. in Caotun Township, Nantou County, after they received a report at around 5 p.m. They found four people dead at the scene and Lai Min-nan (???), the head of the company, severely injured.

Lai’s brother, daughter, a male department head surnamed Liu (?), and a female employee surnamed Chang (?) were found shot dead, the police said.

Lai was rushed to a hospital, the police said.

The shooting was carried out by a lone gunman who wore a hat and covered his face, and fled the scene on a scooter, Kang Chien-chun (???), the chief of the Caotun police precinct, told reporters.

Kang described the shootings as execution-style since the victims had all been shot in the head, according to local media.

According to some employees of the company, the gunman, whose height was about 180 centimeters and had a sturdy built, was seen looking around outside the company’s complex on Thursday afternoon.

The gunman then approached and fired shots at Lai’s brother, in his 70s, and Liu, in his 60s, outside the company building, after which he entered the building and forced the employees at gunpoint into a washroom, the employees said.

The employees said that they heard gunshots while inside the washroom and then found Lai, his 40-year-old daughter, and 45-year-old Chang shot and lying on the floor when they came out after the gunman had left.

The shooting may have been related to a business dispute, but further investigation is needed to clarify the cause, local media quoted the police as saying.

Kang Jiann Biotech Co., established in 1991, is a developer and manufacturer of nutrient products made from mushrooms and fungus, according to its website.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel