A young man from Southern Highlands Province is currently in a serious condition at the hospital after being shot on his left cheek after an argument over a mobile phone turned violent.
According to the father Mr. Jeffery Tinso, the incident took place at the Mendi Compound in Gabutu in the city of Port Moresby.
His son, Mr. Jackson Jeffery, was having a few drinks with his friends in the early hours of Wednesday morning when someone from outside the group came over and allegedly stole his mobile phone which was left on a table.
Upon realizing that his phone was gone, he questioned the outsider, but that person denied that he took his phone. The argument heated up and the offender pulled out a handgun and shot at him.
The victim’s father said that the gun was aimed at his son’s face but luckily, he dodged the bullet, and the bullet scraped his left cheek. He was then immediately rushed to Port Moresby General Hospital Emergency Department to get immediate medical attention.
The family and friends of the victim had already filed a police report at Badili Police station for police to follow up and arrest the perpetrator, who is currently on the run.
The Mendi community is rallying support from the whole community in Gabutu to call on the family of the suspect to assist police to locate and arrest him right away.
The father, Mr. Tinso said his son is not a violent person and the incident has really shattered the whole family.
“Everybody and I know Jackson to be a very humble and loving person. This is something I know he would never encourage to happen.”
“Police insisted that family and friends do not get involved, now that it’s a police case. So, we will leave it to the police to put this man behind bars,” said Mr. Tinso.
Meanwhile, the suspect was believed to have attended a haus- cry within Jackson’s neighborhood and then committed the crime.