Sabah teen dies after accidental shooting with homemade rifle during hide-and-seek

SABAH, MALAYSIA: A male student in Keningau, Sabah, died after he was accidentally shot by his friend with a homemade rifle while they were playing hide-and-seek.

The fatal incident occurred on 7 December at around 8am, when the friend allegedly discharged the weapon from a distance of about three metres.

Police later discovered 14 gunshot wounds on the victim’s body.

Keningau District Police Chief, Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai, said villagers rushed the Form Two student to Keningau Hospital, but the 14-year-old succumbed to his injuries.

Initial investigations revealed that the victim had been holding the homemade rifle, locally known as a Bakakuk, before handing it to his friend, who had jokingly asked for it.

“While playing hide-and-seek, the victim hid under the house before the suspect is believed to have accidentally pulled the trigger and fired at him.

The suspect panicked and called for help from passing villagers before the victim was taken to hospital,” Yampil said.

The weapon was later hidden by the suspect’s 13-year-old younger brother, who had also been playing hide-and-seek.

The Bakakuk belongs to the boys’ 70-year-old father.

A post-mortem conducted on the morning of 8 December at Queen Elizabeth Hospital confirmed the 14 gunshot wounds, including injuries to the right chest, right arm, knee, and left side of the body, Harian Metro reported.

Police have seized the rifle, live ammunition, bullet casings, the suspect’s clothing, and two mobile phones to aid their investigation.

Both underage suspects and their father have been detained. It was also revealed that the victim was a close friend of the suspect and frequently stayed overnight at the family home.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.