Would-be robber shoots himself rather than surrender to police

JOHOR BARU: A man with a pump gun shot himself with it rather than surrender to the police, in front of a 24-hour restaurant in Bukit Kempas here.

In the 5am incident Friday, the man was spotted by a police patrol unit near the eatery in Jalan Desa Kempas 1 holding a gun.

Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Taib Ahmad said his men asked the suspect to hand over the weapon but he refused to do so.

"Police back up was called and five more units arrived at the scene and surrounded the suspect.

"When the policemen told the suspect to turn himself in, he released a shot in the air before pointing the pump gun to his mouth and letting out another shot," said ACP Mohd Taib.

He said the suspect, in his 40s and a local, died on the spot.

"We believe that the man was at the location for a robbery attempt but this was thwarted by the presence of police," be said.