Sumba Student Killed by Friend's Air Rifle Shot Revealed to be LMID Activist
Mario Marselina Kura (24) was killed by an air rifle shot fired by his friend, Alexander Bili Kandu (20), in Weepangali Village, Kota Tambolaka District, Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The victim was revealed to be an activist for the Southwest Sumba Executive of the Indonesian Student League for Democracy (LMID).
“It is true, he was a comrade of the LMID; he had only become active after we expanded our mass movement base and formed the LMID in Southwest Sumba in March,” said Hendrik Manu Rara, Chairman of the LMID Executive for Kupang City, when contacted on Saturday (23/5/2026).
Hendrik noted that Mario was scheduled to undergo basic training as an LMID member this coming June. “They were supposed to participate in basic member training next month,” he added.
LMID has strongly condemned the incident that claimed Mario’s life and is urging the Southwest Sumba Police to apply multiple charges against the perpetrator. Hendrik described the suspect’s actions as a form of conscious and intentional negligence.
“This must be thoroughly investigated because we suspect the perpetrator acted consciously, intentionally, and negligently when shooting our comrade. The perpetrator must be immediately named a suspect to serve as a deterrent to the public, ensuring no one uses air rifles arbitrarily,” Hendrik asserted.
The Head of Criminal Investigation at the Southwest Sumba Police, Inspector Yakobus Sanam, revealed that Alexander has now been named a suspect. Alexander is being charged under Article 474, Paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 (the New Criminal Code), which carries a potential five-year prison sentence.
“We have completed the case review, moving from investigation to forensic examination and the designation of a suspect. We have also commenced the detention of the suspect, effective from today for the next 20 days,” stated Yakobus.
Yakobus noted that Mario was due to sit for his undergraduate thesis examination today. Mario was recorded as a final-semester student at Stella Maris University, Southwest Sumba.
It was previously reported that Mario Marselina Kura died after being shot with an air rifle by his friend, Alexander Bili Kandu. The tragic incident occurred in Weepangali Village, Kota Tambolaka District, Southwest Sumba, NTT, at approximately 4:00 PM WITA on Friday (22/5).
Reports suggest that Mario had initially asked Alexander to shoot him as a joke. However, Alexander instead cocked the rifle and fired a shot into Mario’s right chest, causing him to collapse and subsequently pass away. According to Yakobus, Alexander’s actions constituted misuse and negligence resulting in death. Furthermore, Alexander did not possess the necessary permits for the use and ownership of the air rifle.