KUALA LUMPUR – A male cleaner sustained injuries to his leg after being shot at Setia City Mall last night in an incident that saw the suspect firing multiple rounds before forcing a driver to aid his escape.
Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the victim, a foreign national in his 30s, was rushed to Shah Alam Hospital for treatment and is now in stable condition.
“The suspect, believed to be a local, arrived at the shopping mall at around 10pm and approached the victim before opening fire,” Hussein said, as reported by Bernama.
According to police, at least eight shots were fired at the victim using a pistol before the suspect fled the scene. After the shooting, the suspect reportedly stopped a passing vehicle and forced the driver to take him out of the area.
“The suspect then ordered the driver to drop him off by the roadside near the Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), after which the driver lodged a police report,” Hussein added.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam district police chief Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim confirmed that the mall in Shah Alam was safe and had been cleared of any threats. He stated that police reviewed all CCTV footage and conducted a security sweep before allowing the premises to resume normal operations.
“After a thorough inspection, we confirm that this area is safe, and the premises will be allowed to operate as usual tomorrow,” he said at the scene.
Authorities are now actively tracking the suspect and urge the public to report any sightings of individuals behaving suspiciously.
Speaking to Astro Awani, Hussein elaborated that the suspect did not have his own vehicle and resorted to hijacking a passing car.
“He forced the driver to take him out of the mall area before making him stop along the expressway. The driver has since filed a police report, and we are piecing together the suspect’s escape route,” he said.
“This is an isolated incident, and we believe the suspect had a specific motive when he went to the mall and shot at the victim.”
He further assured the public that security measures had been reinforced and that officers were combing through additional CCTV footage from surrounding areas to track the suspect’s movement.
Bystanders at the scene described moments of panic, as some shoppers ran for safety while others remained frozen in confusion. Videos circulating on social media depict a chaotic scene, with frightened visitors seeking shelter in nearby stores.
“We urge the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious individuals to the police immediately,” Hussein reiterated.
Police are currently gathering evidence and witness statements while continuing the manhunt for the suspect. – February 9, 2025