8-11-2024 (SINGAPORE) A police officer discharged his firearm at Pasir Ris Park early Thursday morning, wounding a reportedly armed man who was displaying aggressive behaviour near the park’s bird watching tower.
The incident, which occurred around 6am, involved a male subject who witnesses described as emotionally distressed and seemingly poised to attack park visitors. Police responded to the situation by shooting the man in the arm, after which he was promptly transported to hospital for treatment.
By early afternoon, authorities had established a significant presence at the scene, with multiple police vehicles and officers conducting detailed searches of the surrounding area. Both access paths to the bird watching tower remained cordoned off as investigations continued.
Local resident Nick Wheeler, 52, observed police officers meticulously examining the ground and vegetation near the tower. “I normally walk this route, but today I’ve had to find an alternative path due to the police cordon,” the accountant told reporters.
IT professional Brian Chong, 30, a regular park visitor, expressed concern about the unusual nature of the incident. “Such events are exceptionally rare in Singapore. While it’s unsettling, I’m reassured by the police’s swift response to protect public safety,” he said.
This incident follows a similar case from March 2022, when police fatally shot a drug-influenced man wielding a kitchen knife at Bendemeer Road. That incident was recently ruled a misadventure by District Judge Kamala Ponnampalam, who determined the officer’s use of force was justified given the immediate threat to police safety.
The current investigation into the Pasir Ris Park shooting remains ongoing, with authorities yet to release further details about the suspect’s identity or condition.
