A man in China, recently released after serving 20 years for murder, caused widespread outrage by celebrating his freedom with firecrackers and a lavish banquet outside the victim’s home. Despite the victim’s family pleading with him to stop, he continued his provocative actions until local authorities intervened.
The incident was brought to light when the victim’s son, Xiang, shared a video on Douyin, a popular Chinese social media platform. In the video, he described the emotional impact of the murderer’s actions. He also recalled the brutal murder of his father, who was killed by three men hired by a neighbor. Xiang, then 15 years old, never had the chance to see his father’s body, which was set on fire after the killing.
“If I had the chance, I’d like to talk to the killer. Not to vent my anger, but to understand why he made the choice that brought so much pain to two families. But on the day of his release, I was met with blatant provocation and overwhelming malice,” Xiang said in the video.
Xiang’s father was murdered due to a dispute among relatives. The murderers, hired by a neighbor, killed him in his bedroom, then set his body on fire. Xiang’s family faced constant threats and surveillance from the killers, shielding the young boy from the trauma of the incident.
Upon his release, the convicted murderer hosted an extravagant banquet outside the victim’s house and set off firecrackers, seemingly celebrating his return. The celebration continued until local police intervened, speaking to the man and his family about the incident.
The man’s actions have provoked strong reactions on social media. One user on Douyin wrote, “Why were so many people at the banquet? What were they thinking?” Another questioned, “What was the point of 20 years in prison? If he received a reduced sentence, it was clearly a mistake.” A third user commented, “A murderer like this shouldn’t have been released. Investigate that prison thoroughly.”
