On 10 February 2024, the first day of the Chinese New Year, a man reportedly attacked multiple people in Zhaike Village, a settlement in Rizhao's Ju County in Shandong, China, with a knife and some type of firearm.

A doctor, aged around 27, attempted to save the injured, but was ambushed and shot dead by the attacker who had been hiding behind cover, using a self-converted nail gun that is capable of shooting steel bullets.

[7] Photos circulated on social media appeared to show dozens of armed police, equipped with guns, entering and sealing off the village,[5][10] possibly in the afternoon.

[7] A day after the apparent attack, Ifeng, the online outlet of Chinese media Phoenix Television reported that "a man suspected of injuring multiple villagers" was under officials' control.

The report cited "rumors on the internet" located the apparent attack at Zhaike village of Luohe township.

On 12 February, Ifeng published another news report on the massacre, which put the death toll at "over 10" and that "one suspect is under control".

Li said most of the sources claimed 3 to 6 people were involved, and the main perpetrator was arrested as he did not flee the crime scene.

[7] Social media users suspected the man was depressed as his arranged fiancée suddenly left, thereby triggering the attack.

[7] The political commission of Rizhao's Communist Party branch reportedly released "Emergency Notice regarding Establishment of Daily Report System on Risks and Hidden Danger of Social Conflict" on 11 February, calling for serious investigations on 16 groups of people that might provoke extreme cases, including the unemployed, unguarded teens, mental disorder patients, those failed in life, marriage or investments, or prone to violence.

Li said this is likely due to unconfirmed plans of the hospital to consider the perpetrator with major mental disorder, so as to play down the seriousness but, at the same time, shift the responsibilities to the medical workers for negligence.

[8] This incident remains poorly reported by Chinese media, with much of the details unconfirmed by any official source.