News Who was Shinzo Abe? The latest on Japan’s former prime minister’s assassination and the gunman who killed him July 8, 2022Joey Garrison and Michael Collins, USA TODAYComments Off on Who was Shinzo Abe? The latest on Japan’s former prime minister’s assassination and the gunman who killed him Japan's former leader Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a gunman Friday. Here's what to know about Japan's longest-serving prime minister.