---
title: "3 Killed After 71yo M’sian Man Opens Fire At Kota Tinggi Food Court Over Debt Dispute"
url: https://weirdkaya.com/3-killed-in-kota-tinggi-shooting/
date: 2026-04-20
modified: 2026-04-20
lang: en
author: "Sarah Yeoh"
description: "Patrons at a food court at Kota Tinggi in Taman Kota Jaya were sent fleeing for their lives after a man brazenly fired several shots yesterday afternoon (Apr 29). As..."
categories:
  - "Society"
tags:
  - "#Trending"
  - "Kota Tinggi shooting"
  - "Malaysia"
image: https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/202604-wk-Kota-Tinggi-shooting-cover-image-1636.jpg
word_count: 359
---

# 3 Killed After 71yo M’sian Man Opens Fire At Kota Tinggi Food Court Over Debt Dispute

## TL: DR

- **Kota Tinggi Shooting:** A 71-year-old local man allegedly opens fire at a Taman Kota Jaya food court on April 29, leaving three individuals aged 37 to 63 dead.
- **Johor Police Arrest:** Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad confirms police nab the suspect within 30 minutes and seize a licensed Benelli M/Super shotgun used for agriculture.
- **Section 302 Probe:** Police investigate the murder case under Section 302 of the Penal Code following reports of an alleged loan dispute and physical altercation detailed below.

##### Patrons at a food court at Kota Tinggi in Taman Kota Jaya were sent fleeing for their lives after a man brazenly fired several shots yesterday afternoon (Apr 29).

As a result of the shooting, three individuals — two local men and a foreign woman aged between 37 and 63 — died at the scene, reported [NST](https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/04/1421472/kota-tinggi-triple-murder-witnesses-mistook-shotgun-blasts).

## Thought gunshots were firecrackers

Speaking to the English daily, several traders at the area recounted the terrifying incident and said they initially thought the gunshots were firecrackers.

A trader named Abdul said he saw several people arguing about 50m from his shop before the situation turned physical.

![Kota Tinggi shooting (1)](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/Kota-Tinggi-shooting-1-1.png)Photo via [China Press](https://www.chinapress.com.my/20260419/3%e5%90%8d%e7%96%91%e6%98%af%e5%8d%8e%e8%a3%94%e7%94%b7%e5%a5%b3-%e9%a3%9f%e8%82%86%e5%a4%96%e9%81%ad%e6%9e%aa%e6%9d%80-%e5%bd%93%e5%9c%ba%e6%af%99%e5%91%bd/)

He said the suspect then went to his vehicle before coming back and opening fire.

> **After that, we heard several loud bangs. At first, we thought they were firecrackers, but it turned out to be gunshots. Everyone was panicked, so we immediately closed shop."**

Another trader named Hamzah said he saw the suspect loitering in the area before the incident and acted suspiciously.

He added the suspect was a vegetable seller and farm operator in the area and had no history of beefing with residents, although he's believed to have had a dispute with the victims.

![Kota Tinggi shooting (2)](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/Kota-Tinggi-shooting-2-1.png)Photo via [China Press](https://www.chinapress.com.my/20260419/3%e5%90%8d%e7%96%91%e6%98%af%e5%8d%8e%e8%a3%94%e7%94%b7%e5%a5%b3-%e9%a3%9f%e8%82%86%e5%a4%96%e9%81%ad%e6%9e%aa%e6%9d%80-%e5%bd%93%e5%9c%ba%e6%af%99%e5%91%bd/)

## Shooting allegedly triggered by debt dispute

Meanwhile, Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspect, a 71-year-old local man, was [nabbed by police 30 minutes after the shooting.](https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/04/1421394/suspected-gunman-killing-three-food-court-arrested-within-30-minutes)

A Benelli M/Super shotgun, believed to have been used in the attack, was also seized by police.

##### However, checks found that the suspect had no prior criminal record and holds a valid firearm licence to use the gun for agricultural purposes.

A source later told NST that before the shooting, the suspect had recently [confronted one of the victims, a restaurant owner, to pay back a loan.](https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/04/1421642/kota-tinggi-triple-murder-loan-dispute-may-have-been-cause-shooting)

![Kota Tinggi shooting (3)](https://cdn.weirdkaya.com/media/Kota-Tinggi-shooting-3-1.png)Photo via [China Press](https://www.chinapress.com.my/20260419/3%e5%90%8d%e7%96%91%e6%98%af%e5%8d%8e%e8%a3%94%e7%94%b7%e5%a5%b3-%e9%a3%9f%e8%82%86%e5%a4%96%e9%81%ad%e6%9e%aa%e6%9d%80-%e5%bd%93%e5%9c%ba%e6%af%99%e5%91%bd/)

However, the victim was said to have scolded and physically assaulted the suspect instead of settling the alleged debt.

The suspect is expected to be remanded at the Kota Tinggi magistrate's court today and police are probing the case under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

**READ [ALSO](https://weirdkaya.com/msian-man-killed-after-getting-shot-mamak-seremban/):**

https://weirdkaya.com/msian-man-killed-after-getting-shot-mamak-seremban/

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