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.