Police arrest suspected shooter in Balikpapan

The Balikpapan City Police (Polresta) have arrested a university student suspected of involvement in a shooting using an air rifle in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Balikpapan Deputy Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner (AKBP) Fauzan Arianto said on Thursday that the arrest was made after a joint team from the East Kalimantan Regional Police and Balikpapan Police traced video footage and a number of CCTV cameras around the scene.

“The perpetrator has been secured along with the air rifle used as evidence,” Fauzan said.

The shooting is known to have occurred on Wednesday afternoon (12/8).

The perpetrator was immediately taken to the police station for further examination.

Fauzan explained that the airgun is still being examined at the forensic laboratory to determine its type, legality and intended use.

Police, he said, are ascertaining whether the weapon was legally owned and whether its use complied with regulations.

In addition to examining the perpetrator, investigators are also taking statements from a number of witnesses who were near the scene at the time of the incident to establish the sequence of events and the perpetrator’s position when firing the shot.

As of Thursday evening, police were still investigating the perpetrator’s motive for carrying out the shooting.

Fauzan therefore asked the public not to speculate about the motive or background of the perpetrator before the investigation is complete.

He stressed that the public must verify information circulating on social media.

“We urge residents not to spread news whose source is unclear,” he said.

“City security is not only the task of the authorities, but also requires the active participation of the community,” the Deputy Police Chief said.

Investigators are currently still completing the examination files on the perpetrator and the evidence before determining the next legal steps.