A TEENAGE boy lost his life yesterday morning following an accidental shooting involving a homemade firearm, referred to locally as a bakakuk, while playing hide-and-seek with a friend in the yard of a house on Jalan Kem PPH.
The victim, aged 14, was reportedly playing with another 14-year-old boy around 8am when the incident occurred.
The friend is alleged to have discharged the weapon unintentionally from a distance of approximately three metres.
Local residents rushed the boy to Hospital Keningau, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at the emergency unit, having sustained 14 gunshot injuries across various parts of his body.
Superintendent Yampil Anak Garai, Chief of the Keningau Police District, said that preliminary investigations indicated the friend had seen the victim holding the bakakuk outside the house and had asked to handle it in jest.
"While playing hide-and-seek, the victim was hiding under the house when the suspect is believed to have accidentally pulled the trigger, striking the victim," he explained.
"The suspect panicked and sought assistance from passing villagers, who then helped transport the victim to the hospital."
Medical assessments revealed 14 distinct gunshot marks on multiple areas, including the right chest, right arm, knees, and left side of the victim.
Investigators also discovered that a 13-year-old boy, the younger brother of the shooter, had hidden the firearm, while ownership of the bakakuk belonged to their 70-year-old father.
"All three family members have been detained for further investigation. The police have also seized the homemade firearm, live ammunition, spent cartridges, the suspect’s clothing, and two mobile phones to assist in the inquiry under Section 302 of the Penal Code," Yampil added.
Authorities continue to investigate the tragic event, underscoring the dangers of unsupervised play involving homemade firearms and the broader public safety risks posed by such weapons in residential areas. - December 8, 2025
