Keningau: 11-year-old boy dies from homemade firearm shot

An 11-year-old boy died after being shot in the head with a homemade firearm, known locally as a ‘ginsok’, at a rubber plantation hut in Kampung Mampulut, Sook, near Keningau. The incident occurred on a Saturday afternoon while the victim was playing with another child.

Keningau District Police Chief, Superintendent Erwansyah Abdul Basir, stated that the victim was rushed to Keningau Hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead. A post-mortem conducted at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu confirmed the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

Police are conducting a comprehensive investigation into how the weapon was obtained, stored, and handled. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 regarding neglect or exposure of a child to injury, as well as Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960 concerning the unlicensed possession or control of a firearm. Forensic and ballistic examinations are underway to determine the shooting mechanism.