Explanation and Chronology from Marines Regarding Suspected Stray Bullet at Gresik Junior High School
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Navy’s Marine Corps has issued an explanation regarding the alleged stray bullet that struck two junior high school (SMP) students in Gresik, DFH and ROH, on 17 December 2025.
The projectile lodged in the victims’ bodies is suspected to have originated from a TNI AL Marine Corps shooting exercise, located approximately 2.3 kilometres from the school.
“For us, whatever legal dynamics and differences of opinion arise after the incident, the safety and recovery of the victims remain the top priority,” said Rana in a press release received by Kompas.com on Thursday (2/4/2026).
Based on the information gathered by the corps, the incident began when the students were participating in activities in the school mosque area.
On 17 December 2025, DFH first felt an impact on his left hand, while ROH experienced an impact on the back of his body, causing a wound.
After initial treatment at the nearest health facility, both were referred to a hospital for further examination, including X-rays, and underwent surgery to remove the projectiles.
“This shows that from the outset of the incident, it was immediately followed up and not ignored,” said Rana.
He emphasised that the unit has taken concrete steps as a form of empathy and humanitarian responsibility.
These steps include accompanying the victims, funding examinations and hospital treatment, surgery to remove the projectiles, inpatient care, follow-up checks, and escorting them to appointments.
“Regardless of any differences in interpretation regarding the form of assistance or the terms used by each party, what is clear is that the institution did not stand idly by and has been present in a tangible way since the first day to help the victims,” he explained.
However, he added that humanitarian handling must be distinguished from legal proof.
Assistance to the victims is a moral obligation, while legal proof involves tracing the projectile’s origin, the mechanism of the incident, possible negligence, responsible parties, and the form of legal accountability.
“Up to this stage, the deepening process by the authorised parties remains the main basis. Therefore, the assistance provided from the beginning cannot be immediately interpreted as a final admission of all the legal allegations circulating in the public sphere,” Rana stressed.
Rana stated that the suspicion that the projectile came from the Marines’ shooting exercise is still being investigated. This suspicion is one of the main focuses of the probe.
In circulating documents, it is mentioned that the distance between the school and the shooting range is around 2.3 kilometres, along with an official exercise on the day of the incident.