An 11-year-old boy died after being shot by a homemade firearm at his family’s rubber plantation hut in Kampung Manoulut, Sook, Sabah, on Saturday (Oct 10).
Muhamad Sharil Hercluse, a pupil at Sekolah Kebangsaan Membulu, sustained severe head injuries in the incident, which occurred at around 7am.
Keningau District Police Chief Erwansyah Abdul Basir said police received a report on Saturday after the boy went to the plantation with his 10-year-old cousin to tap rubber before taking a break at the hut.
“The victim was taken to Keningau Hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries,” he said on Monday.
A post-mortem examination conducted at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the head, Erwansyah said.
He added that police were investigating how the firearm was obtained, stored and handled.
“Forensic and ballistic examinations are also being conducted to determine the firing mechanism and the type of firearm used in the incident,” he said.
The case is being investigated for unlawful firearm possession and possible negligence that exposed the children to danger.
