Unidentified shooter hits two

Unidentified shooter hits two

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Two people were injured on Thursday by four stray bullets shot in
the air by a man after he was involved in a traffic brawl with
another motorist on Jl. Ahmad Yani, Central Jakarta.

One bullet hit Solomon Simatupang, 50, a resident of Rawasari
subdistrict, Central Jakarta, in the chest, while another hit
Abdul Rauf, 35, a resident of Pulogadung, East Jakarta in the
stomach.

The two were watching the brawl between the unidentified man
and the other motorist when they were hit by the shots. The two
were taken to the Jakarta Islamic Hospital in Cempaka Putih,
Central Jakarta, for emergency treatment.

Witnesses at the scene of the crime told reporters and police
officers that the incident started among motorists stuck in heavy
traffic on Jl. Ahmad Yani.

One of the cars involved was a Nissan Terrano, carrying John
Reinhard, his four colleagues, and John's driver Junaidi.

Behind the Terrano were five cars in a row: four Toyota Land
Cruisers and a sedan, of which witnesses could not identify the
make or model.

The Land Cruiser behind the Terrano honked at it to move
forward. Junaidi, however, could not move forward, as traffic was
jammed.

One of the Cruisers' passengers got out and began to bang on
the Terrano's window. John, in the shotgun seat, got out of his
car and a fight ensued.

The unidentified man -- described by witnesses as having a
crew-cut and well-built body -- began to punch John, when three
more Cruiser passengers -- who were said to have a similar build
-- got out and ganged up on John.

John's screams for help attracted passersby and locals, who
immediately gathered around the cars, several of whom were
reported to have started hitting one of the Cruisers.

One of the four men beating John took out a gun and fired four
shots. Witnesses said the man shot twice into the air and twice
more into the crowd.

Police arrived on the scene 30 minutes later and found John,
whose condition is not known, and his four colleagues, who were
unharmed. The Cruiser group had already fled the scene.

Police took John and his colleagues to the Central Jakarta
Police station for questioning.

Cempaka Putih Police chief Comr. Sudaryono said they had yet
to confirm whether or not the man who fired the side arm was a
member of the military. He said further investigation was being
carried out by detectives of the Central Jakarta Police.