JULAU: A 69-year-old local man was shot dead at a longhouse in Sungai Minus Entabai here on Tuesday morning (Feb 24) in a shooting believed to have stemmed from resentment over the handling of a firearm.
Julau police chief DSP Alif Haiqal Ramesh Abdullah said the incident occurred at about 11am at the five-foot walkway of Minis longhouse.
Initial investigations found that the victim had just returned from his oil palm plantation and was washing his feet when the 43-year-old suspect ran from another unit and fired a single shot using a single-barrel break-action 12-bore shotgun.
“The shot struck the victim on the right shoulder,” he said in a statement.
Alif said the suspect also pointed the firearm at the victim’s son and threatened him.
Despite the threat, the victim’s son rushed him to the Nanga Entaih Health Clinic for emergency treatment, but he was pronounced dead at 11.49am due to severe blood loss.
Acting on information received, police launched an operation and arrested the suspect at about 1.35pm the same day at the longhouse.
“The shotgun and several rounds of ammunition were seized during the arrest,” he added.
Police said the shooting was believed to have been triggered by the suspect’s anger after he was repeatedly told off for playing with a firearm at the longhouse and warned that he would be reported to the police.
Checks found that the shotgun was licensed and registered to the suspect’s mother but had allegedly been taken without permission.
The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
The victim’s body has been sent to Sibu Hospital for a post-mortem.
