A routine day at a business area in Taman Kota Jaya turned into chaos after a loud explosion, initially mistaken for firecrackers, was later confirmed to be gunfire that claimed three lives on the spot.
Witnesses described how tensions escalated rapidly before the shooting. A trader known only as Abdul, 33, said he first noticed a heated argument involving several individuals at a food outlet located about 50 metres from his premises. The confrontation soon intensified, eventually turning into a physical altercation, highlighting how quickly disputes can spiral into serious violence in public spaces.
Abdul recounted that the suspect briefly left the scene and returned shortly after. Moments later, several loud bangs were heard, causing widespread panic among those nearby. “At first, we thought it was fireworks, but it turned out to be gunshots. Everyone was terrified, and we immediately shut our shops,” he said.
Another witness, Hamzah, 57, who has operated a business in the area for over a decade, said he had earlier noticed the suspect behaving suspiciously and lingering around the vicinity. He added that the individual, believed to be a local vegetable seller and small-scale farmer, had no known disputes with residents prior to the incident, underscoring the unexpected nature of the tragedy.
Earlier, Johor Police Chief Ab Rahaman Arsad confirmed that two local men and a foreign woman, aged between 37 and 63, were fatally shot at a restaurant in the area around midday. The victims were believed to have been killed using a shotgun and were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police received a report at approximately 1.30pm and swiftly deployed officers to the location. A 71-year-old local man was later detained about 200 metres from the scene at around 2pm to assist in investigations. Authorities are expected to apply for a remand order at the Kota Tinggi Magistrate’s Court as investigations continue into what is believed to be a targeted and serious criminal act.
