The perpetrator, identified as 22-year-old Wen Qingyun, was arrested, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed in April 2024 in connection with the attack.

The site of the attack, which occurred during evening rush hour, is one of the busiest, densely packed commercial districts in Guangzhou.

Driving east to Tianhe Road, he hit two delivery drivers and a bicycle rider near the Shipaiqiao Bus Station.

Red Star News contacted Wen's father, who stated that at about 12:00, his son said he was going out to find friends, and then drove away.

After graduating from junior college in 2021, he stayed in school to work for half a year, and then returned to Qishi in Dongguan to run a stationery store with his parents.

During his first trial, Wen admitted that he presented himself as a "rich second generation" on social platforms to attract women, but was exposed by a blogger in February 2022.

[12] On the day of the incident, Wen's parents scolded him for irresponsibly spending money by purchasing two packs of cigarettes.

The public prosecution agency said that Wen's speed reached 180 km/h on the highway at one point, and that he also punched his card four times on the Huanan Expressway to evade tolls.

According to Wen's confession, when he was driving to the intersection, he suddenly developed an urge to take his emotions out on others, so he directly accelerated and drove into the crowd.