The Malay Mail Online – Sat, Apr 12, 2014RELATED CONTENT
- A police forensic team scouting for evidence. — Picture by Malay Mail print edit …
AMPANG, April 12 — The gun violence which gripped the nation mid-last year appears to be making a comeback with a fourth shooting case recorded in Klang Valley within the span of a week.
Two policemen were shot at yesterday in Taman Lembah Maju, Ampang, when they tried to check on two men who were behaving suspiciously.
Lance Corporal Lional Richard Jr and Constable Zul Fazli Atlahi were on their rounds in Jalan Lembah Maju when they drove past a food court and saw the two men by the roadside at 10.30pm.
One was sitting on a parked motorcycle, while the other was squatting near a drain. The two policemen stopped and approached the men, but the duo made a run for it.
Richard and Zul Fazli gave chase. As they got closer, Richard managed to grab one of the suspects by his shirt and the latter turned around and fired twice with a gun, hitting the policeman in his abdomen.
He then fired a third shot, which grazed Zul Fazli just below his waist.
The shooter and his accomplice then ran off — one towards the shophouses in front of the food court, and the other into the housing estate nearby.
The wounded men radioed for help and were sent to the Ampang Hospital.
Selangor deputy police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar said Richard would have to undergo surgery, while Zul Fazli was given outpatient treatment.
It was learnt the shooter had used an air gun with ball-bearing bullets.
Rahim said forensics and the K9 team did not find any bullet slugs or shards at the crime scene.
“The two suspects are in their 30s, and are believed to be partners in crime.
“The suspect, whose shirt was torn, had the tattoo of a tiger on his back, so we are looking into the possibility of them being gang members,” Rahim said, adding that the duo had also tried to hit the policemen with their helmets, which have been seized.
He also said checks showed the bike used by the suspects was stolen in Setapak last year. It had a fake registration plate.
Roadblocks were immediately set up, and a task force has been assigned to probe the shooting.
The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, who visited the two injured men, said this was the risk facing every man in blue in carrying out their duties.
He said even a routine patrol could end up disastrous.
“Our men have to always be alert and vigilant, especially if they are assigned to crime hotspots,” Khalid said.
