Assassination of Steven Hong

Steven Hong, the 22nd Prime Minister of Sierra, was shot and fatally wounded by Dylan Coulter at 4:38 pm (11:38 ), on Friday, August 12, 2016, in the Old Sycamore Courthouse, Juno, Plumas. The Prime Minister died en route to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:54 pm by emergency care workers. Coulter has been apprehended by police, and captured on the scene, and is currently undergoing interrogation and criminal processing. According to a 38-page manifesto, Coulter's motivation for the attack was his apparent disapproval of the Democratic-Republican Party's "complicit monarchism" and for the progressive policies that the party establishment supported, most particularly, its "multicultural platform".

Immediately after Hong's declared death, his deputy, Preston Bolivar, assumed the Prime Ministry in an acting capacity accordingly to the Sierran line of succession as described by the Constitution. Bolivar declared a state of emergency and as Hong's running mate, suspended Hong's campaign, leaving the Democratic-Republicans without a nominee currently.

The assassination has elicited sharp reactions and responses within the Kingdom and in the international community. Queen Angelina II made a rare television appearance, delivering a speech urging resolve and strength in light of the calamity, and vowed to hold all those accountable to justice. Likewise, Parliament authorized Bolivar's call for a state of emergency, and activated an open investigation in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice and Sierran intelligence agencies. In response to the assassination, the Conference of American States summoned a special session regarding the political crisis and to coordinate an investigation on the death of the Prime Minister. The assassination also provoked long-term debates on, republicanism, and race relations, as well as its dire impact on the upcoming prime ministerial election in October which Hong was running for.