A man suspected of carrying out a shooting at a bar in Canggu, Bali, has been arrested after attempting to leave the island. The incident, which left a security guard and a Chinese national injured, took place at The Shady Pig on Jalan Pantai Berawa, North Kuta, Badung Regency, in the early hours of Friday, 17 July.
The suspect, identified only by the initial H, was detained shortly after arriving at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta on Saturday evening, 18 July. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine the motive.
Two People Injured During Altercation at The Shady Pig
According to police, the shooting occurred at approximately 2:50 a.m. WITA following an argument between the suspect and a Chinese national identified by the initials EA (25).
A security guard, identified as IMYM (32), intervened in an attempt to stop the confrontation. As he positioned himself between the two men, the suspect allegedly fired a single shot.
Badung Police Chief AKBP Joseph Edward Purba explained how the incident unfolded.
“Initially, there was an altercation between the perpetrator and the foreign tourist, and the security guard approached the second victim, blocking their path with their bodies very close together. That’s when the perpetrator fired, the bullet piercing the security guard’s left thigh and then directly into the left thigh of the foreign national behind him,” said Joseph, as quoted from DetikBali.
Acting Head of the Public Relations Sub-Division of the Badung Police, First Inspector Ni Nyoman Ayu Inastuti, confirmed that the case is being investigated as a firearms offence.
“It’s suspected to be a serious assault with a firearm or shooting with a firearm,” Ayu said, as quoted from CNNIndonesia.
She added that the bullet passed through the security guard before striking the second victim.
“As a result of the shooting, the victim (IMYM) was wounded through the back, hitting EA in the back, and the projectile remains lodged in his thigh,” Ayu explained.
Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment and are reported to be receiving medical care.
Suspect Arrested After Travelling to Jakarta
Following the shooting, the suspect did not immediately leave Bali. Police said he remained in hiding before boarding a flight from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport to Jakarta.
Authorities launched a manhunt shortly after the incident and successfully arrested the suspect after his arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday evening.
Before the arrest, Badung Police Chief Joseph said officers had begun searching for the suspect and secured the crime scene.
“We are pursuing the perpetrator of this shooting. Officers on the ground have also set up police tape at the scene,” Joseph said.
Investigators from the Badung Police Criminal Investigation Unit and North Kuta Police conducted a forensic examination of the scene, interviewed witnesses and reviewed CCTV footage from the surrounding area.
“The Criminal Investigation Unit and the North Kuta Police have already conducted a thorough investigation at the scene and are analysing CCTV footage. We have also submitted a request for a post-mortem examination to the hospital where the two victims are being treated,” Joseph said.
Police also collected several pieces of evidence from the scene, including bloodstained clothing, shoes, socks, a white T-shirt, two pairs of cut black jeans, a piece of red checked fabric and a copper-coloured bullet projectile.
“We have secured all of the victim’s clothing and a copper-coloured bullet projectile as primary evidence. We are currently fully focused on apprehending the perpetrator so that the main motive for this shooting can be revealed quickly,” Joseph said.