JAKARTA: An 18-year-old identified as Bertrand Eko Prasetyo was pronounced dead after being shot during an incident on Jl. Toddopuli Raya, Panakkukang district in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday (March 1) morning, local police said.
According to Makassar police chief Sr. Comr. Arya Perdana, an officer from the Panakkukang district, identified only as First Police Inspector N., responded to reports of a group of youths playing with toy water gel blasters in the street, which residents said was disrupting traffic.
“At the time, the group of teenagers was behaving violently toward a motorcyclist. The officer attempted to apprehend one of them, restraining him while firing a warning shot,” Arya said during a press conference on Tuesday evening.
“During the struggle, the pistol held by First Police Inspector N. accidentally discharged, striking the victim in the back,” he added.
The victim was immediately taken to a local hospital, and later referred to Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Makassar, where he died.
Makassar police have promptly secured the officer’s firearm and placed him into custody as the case is examined under both criminal and internal disciplinary procedures, Arya said, as reported by Kompas.com.
He also urged the public to remain patient and pledged a transparent investigation.
“Trust us. We will not cover anything up. I urge the public to closely follow the case as it is processed both criminally and [internally] under the police’s code of ethics,” he said.
The victim’s mother, Desi Manutu, expressed profound shock and grief over her son’s death, saying she could hardly comprehend how the shooting occurred.
“How could he be shot? Police normally fire warning shots into the air. This must have been a mistake,” she said, emphasising the family’s call for transparency and accountability in the investigation.
The fatal shooting of the Makassar teenager comes amid heightened scrutiny of police conduct and use of force in the country.
Recent incidents, including the death of a 14‑year‑old student in Tual, Maluku, after he was struck by a police tactical helmet during an encounter with officers, have triggered nationwide outrage and renewed debate over accountability within the force.
In that case, student groups and civil society activists have rallied for police reform, arguing the incident reflected deeper problems in how law enforcement interacts with civilians, particularly young people. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
