Suspect shot dead for trying to run

TANGERANG: Tangerang Police shot dead a suspected robber near the Balaraja toll booth early on Wednesday for trying to escape.

Tangerang Police deputy chief of detectives Insp. Kustanto said policemen had to shoot suspect Armudin, 28, a resident of Tigaraksa, Tangerang, because he ignored the warning shots.

Armudin was arrested on Tuesday with accomplice Mawardi, 29, at their hideout in East Lampung regency, Lampung. They were suspected of committing several robberies last year in Tangerang and Rangkas Bitung.

As the police car neared the entrance to the toll road, Armudin managed to slip free of the handcuffs, then jumped out of the police car and kept running, ignoring the warning shots.

"The two suspects had been on our wanted list for a series of crimes they had committed last year," Kustanto said.

He said they had stolen money from an automatic teller machine at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, robbed a gold store in Rangkas Bitung and a Toyota Astra car dealer in Jatiuwung, Tangerang.

Armudin's body was sent to Tangerang General Hospital, but as of Wednesday, no one has claimed it.

Kustanto said police were interrogating Mawardi. -- JP