One 55-year-old woman was killed after what should have been a routine traffic check turned to tragedy in the city of Lubuklinggau, located in Indonesia’s South Sumatra province.
Yesterday just before noon, a car carrying a family of seven, including a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, was passing through a traffic checkpoint in Lubuklinggau set up by local traffic police. When an officer tried to stop the car, the driver reportedly did not heed the officer’s instruction and drove away instead, almost hitting an officer.
A chase then ensued, during which time multiple gunshots were heard.
“The car then stopped, and the officers fired their guns [at the car] after they previously fired warning shots,” said Commissioner Andi Kumpara, deputy chief of the Lubuklinggau Police, as quoted by Kompas last night.
It wasn’t made clear how many shots were fired, but photos show extensive damage to the car.
According to reports, a 55-year-old woman named Surini died due to multiple gunshot wounds. Five other passengers were also wounded by gunfire, including a 3-year-old, who was grazed by a bullet just above his left ear. A 6-year-old was the only one who was not physically injured.
As to why traffic police officers would open fire on a car containing a family of civilians, Andi said the car’s tinted windows were a factor.
“The officers were suspicious because of the tinted windows. After the shooting, it turned out that the suspicions were unfounded,” he said.
Andi added that, before being deployed that day, the officers were briefed that they were allowed to use their firearm only if they were forced to. He did not say whether or not he the officers operated outside of standard procedure. No arrests have been made and police did not disclose whether any internal investigation into the officers’ conduct would take place.
