More details have been revealed regarding the shooting incident that occurred last night (15), in Mount Lavinia, which killed one individual.
A 40-year-old man was shot dead at a motorcycle repair shop on Huludagoda Lane in Mount Lavinia, with police suspecting that the shooting may have actually been intended for the owner of the shop.
The shooting took place at around 9.40 p.m. at the motorcycle repair shop. CCTV footage shows two unidentified gunmen arriving on a motorcycle and turning into Huludagoda Lane before heading towards the repair shop.
According to the footage, one of the suspects got off the motorcycle and had entered the garden of the premises.
He then allegedly had opened fire with a revolver at a person who was near the motorcycle repair shop before fleeing the scene on the same motorcycle, police said.
The victim was taken to the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital with gunshot injuries but later had succumbed to his injuries.
He has been identified as a 40-year-old resident of Ragama, according to police.
Mount Lavinia Police and members of the Police Special Task Force (STF) immediately had launched investigations at the scene last night.
The owner of the motorcycle repair shop and several others were taken to the Mount Lavinia Police Station to record statements.
The mother of the motorcycle repair shop owner arrived at the scene this morning (16) after attending the Bellanwila Perahera last night.
She stated to the police that the deceased was a friend of her son and had frequently visited the premises, where he allegedly used drugs.
A motorcycle believed to belong to the deceased was also found parked at the location, police said.
However, based on information uncovered during the investigation, police suspect that the deceased may not have been the intended target of the shooting.
Police suspect that the gunmen had arrived with the intention of killing the owner of the motorcycle repair shop, identified as ‘Sandun.’
According to police, information has also emerged that he is a close associate of a drug trafficker known as “ID”.
Police further stated that Sandun had previously been summoned to the Western Province South Crime Division and questioned in connection with a recent murder in the area.
Investigators also suspect that the shooting may have been carried out as an act of retaliation following the recent shooting death of an associate of “Kudu Anju” in Ratmalana.
Further investigations are being conducted by the Mount Lavinia Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau under the supervision of Western Province South Deputy Inspector General of Police Samantha Wijesekara.
