Boy, 11, dies after being shot by homemade firearm in Keningau

 Police say they are investigating how the weapon, known as a 'ginsok', was obtained.

Keningau police chief Erwansyah Abdul Basir said the victim and another child were playing in a hut when the incident occurred. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

An 11-year-old boy in Sook, Keningau, has died following a gunshot wound to his head, believed to have been caused by a homemade firearm known as a “ginsok”.

Keningau police chief Erwansyah Abdul Basir said a report was received on Saturday concerning the boy, who sustained serious injuries to his head.

“A preliminary investigation found that the victim and another child were at a hut before a shot was fired.

“The victim was taken to Keningau Hospital for emergency treatment but succumbed to his injuries,” he said in a statement today.

Erwansyah said a post-mortem carried out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu yesterday confirmed the cause of death as “gunshot wound to the head”.

He said 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. - FMT