Hebei gamer burns down café after killing owners because… internet is down

By Sharon Kwok

Nothing can be more irritating than crappy internet connection when it comes to playing online games. Right? But who would have guessed that could turn just another addicted gamer into a frenzied murderer?
A male gamer surnamed Zhao in Renqiu, Hebei province has been arrested for murdering a couple who owned a local internet café. Zhao was playing an online game at the café when the internet connection suddenly broke. Zhao then angrily called owner Ren over to see what the problem was. Ren suggested it was due to viruses from files Zhao downloaded, and kept grumbling about it.
Later the two got into an intense argument, and Zhao started beating Ren with his fists. In order to defend himself, Ren fetched a hammer from the backyard and threatened to attack Zhao with it. Zhao in turn grabbed a pair of scissors and began stabbing Ren, who tried to fight back with his hammer but missed. Getting bloodthirsty, Zhao took the hammer over and smashed Ren’s head repeatedly until he died.
Ren’s wife Liu rushed to the scene after hearing the noise, but was struck by Zhao with the hammer before she could get there. Zhao then killed her with the hammer, scissors and a kitchen knife, and set the café ablaze in an attempt to conceal evidence (though leaving behind the murder weapons). It was not until the following morning that the couple’s bodies and the burnt down café were discovered by customers.

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