The incident occurred around 9:30 pm in Sulaimani city’s Raparin neighborhood after “tensions escalated between two citizens,” according to a statement from Asayish.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the shooter was a member of the Sulaimani-based Peshmerga commando forces. Others claimed that the suspect had recent disagreements with the vendors.
“Asayish forces immediately arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect. For the sake of the rule of law, an employee of the commando forces accused of helping the killer has been handed over to the Asayish by the Kurdistan commando forces,” said the statement, adding that investigations are ongoing.
The victim, 27, had been a tea-seller on the street for nearly ten years, according to one of his relatives who spoke to Rudaw.
“We were all busy with work. He [the suspect] came in and started talking and swearing. We tried to defend ourselves and push him away, but he would not listen. And then he started shooting,” one of the vendors told Rudaw.
The wounded individual was reportedly shot in the leg and is currently in stable condition.
Nizar Jaza in Sulaimani contributed to this report.
