A 36-year-old Indian man was shot and killed in Sungai Petani, Kedah on Wednesday, 25th May. The shooting happened at 12.30pm in front of a eatery in Taman Intan.
The man had been out with his family and a friend at the time when the shooting occurred. Two shots connected, one to the victim’s head and another hitting his body. The 36-year-old victim died on the spot in front of his family.
The victim had been about to leave in his car after having lunch. However, four men on two motorcycles rode up to him. One man got off a bike and fired eight shots at the man. Police later confirmed that the distance between the gunman and the victim were less than a metre away. His family and friend escaped unscathed.
A witness who was working in a nearby store admitted to hearing the gunshots. However, he had initially assumed it was simply firecrackers going off. They added that the group had been wearing face masks and gloves during the incident, thus making it hard to identify them.
Police have already started investigating the matter. Currently, they have identified the victim as Murali Shunmugam. He was from the United States and was apparently a wanted man under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA). Police believe he may have been involved as a gangster. “The police have yet to identify the suspect and are investigating the case’s motives from multiple angles,” Kedah State Police Chief Datuk Wan Hassan said, according to China Press.
A witness from the eatery claimed the victim had been a regular. “He came here almost every week with his family for lunch,” they reportedly told the Star. The eatery has been temporarily closed due to the investigation.
Sources: China Press, The Star
