Police officer shot dead in accidental weapon discharge

ThejakartapostFirst. Brig. Leo Sitanggang, a police officer in Medan, North Sumatra, was reportedly shot dead by his colleague on Tuesday morning.

The accident took place at the Medan Police Padang Bulan barracks in Medan. Leo’s colleague, First. Brig. Ikhsan Fuadi, was cleaning his SS1-V2 assault rifle when he fired it accidently into Leo’s right eye.

Leo died on the scene at about 10:45 a.m.

North Sumatra Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Heru Prakoso said that Ikhsan had been cleaning the rifle after escorting a logistics shipment to Aceh and was not aware that there was still a bullet in the chamber.

“First Brig. Ikhsan Fuadi accidently pulled the trigger when cleaning the rifle and hit First Brig. Leo Sitanggang’s right eye and penetrated the skull,” he told The Jakarta Post.

The provincial police were still questioning Ikhsan, he added. (nvn)