BADUNG, Bali — The manhunt for the suspect in a shooting at a popular bar in Bali’s Canggu nightlife district ended nearly 1,000 kilometers from the island, after police arrested him moments after he stepped off a flight at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
The suspect, identified only by the initial H, an Indonesian national, was taken into custody on Saturday night, July 18, less than 24 hours after police allege he opened fire inside The Shady Pig bar, injuring two people with a single bullet.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has drawn widespread attention because it involved a firearm being discharged in one of Bali’s busiest tourist entertainment areas.
How the Suspect Tried to Escape
According to local media reports, H did not immediately leave Bali after the shooting. Instead, investigators believe he went into hiding for several hours before later boarding a flight to Jakarta from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.
His movements were quickly traced by investigators.
A joint operation involving the North Kuta Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Badung Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, and immigration authorities at both Ngurah Rai and Soekarno-Hatta airports was launched after investigators suspected the suspect had fled the island.
Arrested Moments After Landing
Police intercepted H shortly after his arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday night.
Following the arrest, he was immediately flown back to Bali, where he is now undergoing intensive questioning at Badung Police Headquarters.
Badung Police Chief AKBP Joseph Edward Purba declined to discuss operational details of the arrest when contacted on Sunday, July 19, saying investigators would release further information as the investigation progresses.
How the Shooting Unfolded
The shooting occurred during the early hours of Friday, July 17, inside The Shady Pig, a popular late-night venue on Jalan Pantai Berawa in Canggu.
According to police, the incident began with an altercation between H and a 25-year-old Chinese national, identified by the initials EA.
A 32-year-old bar security guard, identified as IMYM, stepped in to separate the two men.
Police allege that instead of the confrontation de-escalating, H drew a firearm and fired a single shot.
The bullet struck the security guard in the left thigh before passing through his leg and lodging in the left thigh of the Chinese national standing directly behind him.
Both victims survived the shooting and remain hospitalized while receiving medical treatment.
Investigation Continues
Investigators have already collected witness statements, analyzed CCTV footage from the bar, and secured several pieces of physical evidence from the scene, including a copper-colored bullet projectile believed to have been fired during the incident.
Police are also awaiting medical examination reports (visum et repertum) as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive or whether additional charges may be filed as investigators continue questioning the suspect.
What We Know So Far
- Police allege H opened fire during an altercation inside The Shady Pig bar in Canggu in the early hours of Friday, July 17.
- A 32-year-old security guard and a 25-year-old Chinese national were both struck by the same bullet and remain hospitalized.
- Investigators believe the suspect went into hiding before boarding a flight from Ngurah Rai International Airport to Jakarta.
- A coordinated operation involving police and immigration authorities in Bali and Jakarta led to his arrest at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport less than 24 hours after the shooting.
- The suspect has been returned to Bali and is being questioned by investigators at Badung Police Headquarters.
- Police have not yet announced a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
As detectives continue to examine forensic evidence and interview the suspect, authorities say additional details, including the motive behind the shooting and the legal status of the firearm allegedly used, will be released once the investigation reaches its next stage.