KUALA LUMPUR: Police suspect that the gunman in the shooting of a janitor at a shopping mall in Setia Alam had acted out of rage after being told to move his belongings.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain (pic) said the shooter, a local man in his 30s, was believed to be under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
“However, the real motive has (yet to be determined),” he told reporters after accompanying Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil to the 60th anniversary of Silat Cekak Pusaka Hanafi celebrations here yesterday.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said Selangor police, with support from Bukit Aman, are conducting further investigations and tracking down the suspect involved in the 10.50pm shooting on Saturday.
He expressed confidence that the case would be resolved soon.
Earlier, Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the suspect has been identified as a man with a criminal record of 11 drug-related offences.
“We are tracking him down. The motive behind the incident is still under investigation,” he said when contacted, adding that initial investigations revealed that the incident was not connected to a goldsmith robbery.
“However, we are not ruling the possibility of him planning to do so,” he added.
The shooting unfolded when the gunman shot a foreign worker in the leg and posterior as he was putting away cleaning supplies. The wounded victim was rushed to Shah Alam Hospital.
After the attack, the shooter fled to the mall’s P2 level, blasting several rounds at a sliding door before storming to the parking area.
“The suspect tried to flag down a mall patron, but when the driver didn’t stop, he fired a shot that hit the car. The car driver has since lodged a police report,” Comm Hussein revealed.
Undeterred, the gunman then forced another driver at gunpoint to drive him out of the mall before dropping him off near the Pandamaran exit of the Kesas Expressway.
Comm Hussein said police recovered more than 10 bullet casings at the stairs and parking areas of the mall.
“We are investigating the case under Section 3 of the Firearms Act as well as Section 307 of the Penal Code.
“We urge those with information to contact Shah Alam police at 03-5520 4444 or the nearest police station,” he said.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain reminded the public not to speculate about Saturday’s shooting.
“We understand that the public are worried, but we hope they can avoid speculating about it as that would only worsen the situation,” he said.
He said security at malls and public-centred locations nationwide had been tightened.
“We have also instructed auxiliary police and security personnel to be more alert for any suspicious activity.
“Police personnel in other states have also been told to remain alert,” he added.
On Saturday, Bernama quoted Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim as saying that the area around the shopping centre had been confirmed safe and the mall was allowed to operate as usual.
He said police had reviewed all closed-circuit television footage at the premises and conducted a “flushing” operation in the surrounding area before confirming that the location was secure.
