A 32-year-old man is set to be charged with murder after a 73-year-old man died and another man was injured following an incident at Telok Blangah Heights in Singapore.
The incident happened on Monday evening, Oct. 5, near Block 61 Telok Blangah Heights. Police said they received calls for assistance at about 6pm and arrived at the scene within 10 minutes.
Officers found a 73-year-old man lying motionless on the ground floor of the block. A second man, aged 53, was also found injured.
Both men were taken to Singapore General Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force. The 73-year-old man later died, while police said the 53-year-old was conscious when he was taken to hospital.
Suspect called police to surrender
Following the incident, the 32-year-old man called the police and said he would surrender.
He was subsequently arrested in the vicinity of the scene.
Police said preliminary investigations indicate that the man is believed to have acted alone.
Authorities also said there is currently no evidence to suggest that the incident was religiously motivated or connected to terrorism.
The identities of the suspect and the two victims have not been publicly released by police.
Investigation at Telok Blangah Heights
The area around the incident remained cordoned off as officers carried out investigations.
The Straits Times reported that police cordoned off areas around Block 61, including a coffee shop, the void deck of Block 57 and an open-air carpark between the two blocks. Crime scene investigation officers were also seen collecting evidence.
Witnesses described seeing an injured man seeking help near the coffee shop shortly after the incident.
A 27-year-old store assistant told The Straits Times that he saw a man who appeared to be covered in blood running towards the coffee shop at around 6pm. The man appeared to be out of breath and gestured as though someone was following him, although the witness said he did not see anyone behind him.
Another worker from a nearby shop reportedly saw an injured man run towards a clinic near the coffee shop.
It has not been officially confirmed which of the two victims the witnesses encountered.
Man to be charged on Oct. 7
The suspect is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Oct. 7, where he will be charged with murder under Section 302(1) of Singapore’s Penal Code 1871.
The Singapore Police Force said the offence of murder under the provision carries the death penalty.
However, the man has only been arrested and is facing an allegation at this stage. The charge itself is not a finding of guilt, and the case will proceed through the courts.
Police investigations remain ongoing.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed a possible motive for the incident, nor have they provided further details about the circumstances leading up to the confrontation.
The case comes as investigators continue examining what happened around Block 61 Telok Blangah Heights on Monday evening and the circumstances that left one elderly man dead and another person injured.
Further details are expected when the accused is brought before the court on Oct. 7.
