Lahad Datu teen shooting: Pistol was stored in locked cupboard

KOTA KINABALU: The pistol that caused the death of Lahad Datu OCPD's teenage daughter was kept in a locked cupboard, say Sabah police.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said that based on their investigations there was no negligence in terms of the firearm's storage.

Jauteh said that police investigations looked at aspects of negligence in terms of storage and usage of the firearm.

"We are still investigating how the 14-year-old victim was able to open the locked cupboard," he said on Thursday (April 18).

"The victim is the youngest child and is familiar with the room, we are not sure how she can open the cupboard, maybe there is a key found," he said, adding that it was still under investigation.

Comm Jauteh said the Walther P99 pistol was a police service pistol issued to the OCPD and was not a personal firearm.

On April 16, the OCPD's daughter was believed to have accidentally shot herself using her father's gun at their home in Taman Tabanak, Lahad Datu.

Her 16-year-old sister was covered in blood in a room at the house at about 12.45pm. The autopsy found that she died of a single gunshot wound to her chest.

The father had just been promoted to Lahad Datu OCPD on April 1 and was away in the neighbouring Kinabatangan district.

Police have classified the case as a Sudden Death report.