Suspect arrested after death of child in wedding festive firing

AMMAN — Police on Thursday said they arrested a man who reportedly fired live ammunition during a wedding a day earlier, which resulted in the death of a seven-year-old Syrian boy and the injury of two others in Irbid Governorate, 80km north of Amman, security officials said.

The incident occurred late Wednesday night in the town of Taybeh, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“Three people were hit by stray bullets, including the child, who died at the scene,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

The police official added that a man was arrested and a weapon
was seized.

“The weapon was sent to the criminal lab for a ballistic match,” Sartawi added.

The body was transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy, a medical source said.

The two injured remained hospitalised and were in fair condition, the medical source added.  

In 2015, the Public Security Department announced strict measures against those who take part in festive firing, with the department pledging to arrest any person who owns a gun without a licence or fires weapons for any occasion. 

In 2015, 35 people were arrested and 33 weapons seized in cases of festive firing, according to official figures.

The judiciary has introduced stiffer penalties to curb festive shooting and started charging perpetrators with manslaughter and attempted murder.

Individuals convicted of causing death by festive firing face up to 20 years in prison, and in cases of multiple fatalities, the shooter could be sentenced to life in prison.