Modus operandi (killing by sword, stabbing, strangling (by hand or other), shooting, etc.) is reviewed. Fig. 7-4-2-7 shows the number of repeat homicide offenders by modus operandi in the first-time and repeat cases.

Fig. 7-4-2-7  Number of repeat homicide offenders by modus operandi for the first-time case and the repeat case

  The most common was stabbing with a knife regardless of whether offender was Boryokudan offenders or not. With Boryokudan offenders, shooting was the second most common.
  The rates of modus operandi being the same in the first-time and repeat cases (for example, the homicide was committed by shooting in both the first-time case and the repeat case) were as follows with Boryokudan offenders: shooting (63.6%); stabbing by knife (61.0%); strangling by hand or something else (42.9%). The most common motive or cause for Boryokudan offenders who killed their victim by shooting was “power struggle between Boryokudans”. On the other hand, with non-Boryokudan offenders, the rate of modus operandi being the same in the first-time and repeat cases were 96.9% for stabbing and 33.3% for strangling.