Police arrested three 16-year-old boys on Saturday, bringing the total teen arrests in a brutal Tochigi home invasion to four. The trio now faces attempted murder charges for attacking two brothers with crowbars. Moreover, authorities had already detained all three boys for allegedly killing the victims’ mother during the same May 14 incident. Consequently, the teen arrests highlight an increasingly complex case involving adult ringleaders.
The attack occurred at about 9:25 a.m. at the home of Eiko Tomiyama in Kaminokawa town. Investigators say the suspects broke into the residence and immediately assaulted her sons. The two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, suffered serious injuries from the crowbar strikes. Meanwhile, their 69-year-old mother died during the violent home invasion. On Friday, police arrested a fourth 16-year-old boy from Kanagawa Prefecture. He now faces robbery and attempted murder charges against Tomiyama’s sons.
Furthermore, the investigation has widened to include adult suspects who allegedly orchestrated the crime. Officers arrested Kaito Takemae, 28, and his wife Miyu, 25, on Sunday. The Yokohama couple reportedly gave orders to the four perpetrators during the home invasion. They now face robbery and attempted murder charges against the surviving brothers. As a result, the teen arrests now form part of a larger conspiracy involving multiple actors across different age groups.
Despite the mounting charges, the three boys arrested on Saturday denied the allegations. One high school student from Sagamihara claimed he “doesn’t know anything” about the incident. Additionally, two other teens — a high school student from Sagamihara and an unemployed youth from Kawasaki — insisted they “didn’t hit them with crowbars.” However, investigators suspect the Sagamihara boy who claimed ignorance actually recruited the others. He also allegedly drove without a license, transporting the group to Tomiyama’s house. Afterwards, he reportedly fled the scene with one other suspect in his car.
The teen arrests continue to generate significant public concern about youth involvement in violent crime. Police have not yet disclosed a motive for the attack. Nevertheless, the coordinated nature of the home invasion and the involvement of adult plotters suggest a premeditated scheme. Prosecutors will now prepare formal indictments as the investigation progresses. For now, all four teenagers remain in custody while authorities piece together the events of that morning.
