A suspected robber was shot dead by the police after holding a Batu Pahat ceramic shopowner hostage on Thursday night.
Johor CID chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat told The Star Online that the hostage drama unfolded when the 44-year-old suspect reportedly entered the shop at 8.20pm and demanded money from the shopowner.
After failing to get the money from the 53-year-old woman, the suspect reportedly locked himself in a room with her.
Kamarul told the news portal that police spent close to four hours negotiating with the suspect and despite receiving a RM300,000 ransom from the woman’s family members, he reportedly refused to let the victim go.
“It was when the suspect tried to shoot the victim that police took action and fired at him,” Kamarul was quoted as saying, adding that the police fired two shots at the suspect, killing him on the spot.
The authorities reportedly recovered a revolver and a semi-auto Smith and Wesson pistol at the scene.
“We are investigating the connection between the victim and suspect. They probably knew each other,” he was further quoted as saying.
The visibly shaken victim, meanwhile, was sent to the Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital.
