JULAU: A 43-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a senior citizen at a longhouse in Sungai Minus Entabai on Tuesday (Feb 24).
The 69-year-old victim died from a shotgun blast at around 11am, after sustaining severe injuries to his right shoulder, police said.
The incident is believed to have occurred shortly after the victim returned from an oil palm plantation and was washing his feet outside the longhouse.
Julau OCPD Deputy Supt Alif Haiqal Ramesh Abdullah said the suspect emerged from one of the rooms of the longhuse and opened fire on the victim.
"A 12-bore single-barrel breech-loading shotgun was discharged at close range, striking the victim in the right shoulder and causing catastrophic injuries," he said.
Another longhouse resident who witnessed the shooting hid in fear, he added.
However, DSP Alif Haiqal said, another resident intervened to assist help the victim despite being threatened by the suspect.
The injured man was subsequently taken to the Nanga Entaih Health Clinic for emergency treatment, but was pronounced dead.
Acting on a report, a team from the district police headquarters Criminal Investigation Division launched an operation and arrested the suspect at 1.35pm.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the shooting may have been triggered by the suspect’s dissatisfaction over being reprimanded by the victim earlier for handling firearms.
DSP Alif Haiqal said the victim also reportedly threatened to inform the police.
Police investigations found that the shotgun and ammunition were licensed and registered to the suspect’s mother, but had allegedly been taken without her permission, he added.
He said the shotgun and ammunition have been seized, and the case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
