Revealed! Killer of SMPN 26 Bandung Student at Kampung Gajah Was the Victim's Friend — Here's the Motive

The Criminal Investigation Unit of Cimahi Police arrested the perpetrators of the murder of a student from SMPN 26 Bandung, identified by the initials ZAN, who was found dead at the former Kampung Gajah tourist site in West Bandung Regency.

Cimahi Police Chief Sr. Comr. Niko Nurallah said the two suspects, identified by the initials YA (16) and AP (17), both minors, were apprehended in the Banyuresmi area of Garut.

“We have successfully apprehended two suspects with the initials YA and AP, both of whom are minors aged approximately 16 and 17. The suspects and the victim knew each other and previously had a friendship,” he said at a press conference at Cimahi Police headquarters on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

Based on preliminary examination results, the motive for the murder is believed to have been driven by resentment. “The general motive is that the suspect felt hurt toward the victim because the victim had declared his intention to end their friendship,” he explained.

From the investigation, the suspect traveled from Garut to Bandung and met the victim in the Sukajadi area, near the victim’s school. The victim was then taken to the crime scene at the former Kampung Gajah site. An altercation occurred at the location. The suspect then struck the victim’s head with a bottle, causing him to fall, and stabbed the victim eight times using a bayonet-type weapon that had been prepared in advance.

As a result, the victim sustained blunt force trauma to the head with lacerations, as well as eight stab wounds to the abdomen.

To cover their tracks, the suspect used the victim’s mobile phone and sent messages to several of the victim’s friends as if the victim were still alive, claiming to have been kidnapped.

For their actions, both suspects have been charged under Article 80 Paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 on Child Protection as amended by Law Number 23 of 2022, as well as Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, carrying penalties of death, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 20 years in prison.