Makassar shooting case: Police to continue evaluating firearms usage
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Indonesian National Police (Polri) says it will continue to conduct evaluation, including the use of firearms by officers, following the alleged shooting of a teenager in Makassar by an officer of Panakkukang Police Sector, identified as Iptu N.
‘The evaluation process, you know, is ongoing at all times. Every step in operational activities as well as police development involves something called analysis and evaluation—before, during the planning process, analysing and evaluating previous programme activities, while carrying out duties, and post-event,’ said Karopenmas of the Public Relations Division of Polri Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko at the Bareskrim building, Polri, Jakarta, on Thursday.
In that process, he added, there are supervisory functions at various levels to ensure the evaluation runs.
Earlier, Makassar City Police Chief (Kapolrestabes Makassar) Kombes Pol. Arya Perdana stated that Iptu N would be processed despite firing unintentionally when attempting to disperse a group playing with toy guns.
‘The action we took was to immediately secure Iptu N, conduct an on-the-day examination, and secure the weapon,’ he said.
The shooting occurred on Sunday (1/3) at around 07:00 WITA on Toddopuli Raya Street, Rappocini District, Makassar.
He explained that the Rappocini Police Chief reported that there was a group of youths playing with toy guns disturbing road users.
The youths fired the toy guns with hard plastic pellets that could harm people nearby and cause concern. Upon hearing this information, Iptu N, then head of the Panakkukang Police Sector’s Criminal Investigation Unit, went to the scene to disperse the youths.
Upon arriving at the location, Iptu N saw one youth disturbing a motorcyclist. He exited his vehicle, restrained the youth, and fired a warning shot into the air.
After the warning shot, only one youth was apprehended, namely Bertrand, and the others fled.
Bertrand tried to flee as well. While writhing, the pistol still in Iptu N’s possession discharged and accidentally struck the back of Bertrand’s body.
The youth was immediately taken to a nearby hospital. Although he received initial medical treatment, the hospital did not have sufficient equipment and referred him to Bhayangkara Hospital. However, the victim’s life could not be saved and he was pronounced dead.