Police chief says shooter a member of 'Paspampres'
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara confirmed on Friday that the man who fired into a crowd injuring two people in Rawasari, Central Jakarta, was a member of the Presidential Guard (Paspampres).
"Based on our investigations, we can confirm that the shooter was an on-duty member of the Presidential Guard, who was guarding an important personage at the time," he said, without giving any details as to who the "important personage" might be.
Makbul said he had met with the Presidential Guard's commander and the investigation had now been handed over to the Military Police.
"As for progress in the investigation, please ask the Military Police as we are no longer handling the case," he told reporters.
The two victims -- Solomon Simatupang and Abdul Rauf -- were shot in the chest and stomach respectively. Both are being treated at the Jakarta Islamic Hospital, Central Jakarta.
Thursday's incident was sparked by a traffic dispute involving the shooter, whose identity remains unknown, and John Reinhard, who was traveling in a Nissan Terrano in front of an official convoy of four Toyota Land Cruisers and a sedan.
John's car got stuck in a traffic jam on Jl. Ahmad Yani, Central Jakarta, but those in the official convoy became impatient and started honking their horns.
Due to the traffic jam, John's car was unable to move forward. However, one of the men in one of the Land Cruisers got out of his vehicle and began to bang on the window of John's car.
John, who was in the passenger seat, got out of the car and a fight ensued. John's assailant -- whom witnesses described as being well built and having a crew-cut -- started to punch John, after which three other men from one of the Land Cruisers got out and also attacked him.
John's shouts for help attracted passersby and locals, who immediately gathered around the cars. One of the four men beating John took out a gun and fired four shots, two into the air and two into the crowd, according to witnesses.