Military forces in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long are investigating a case where an army captain allegedly shot a person dead and seriously injured another, a local official said Thursday.

 

Initial information shows that Quach Van Chien, captain of a commando battalion, attacked Phan Quang Tien, 24, and his younger brother Phan Quang Si, 19, on Wednesday evening, said Duong Van Dep, chief of Binh Minh District’s police division.

 

Si, shot in the chest, died, while Tien is currently being treated at the Can Tho City General Hospital, Dep said.

 

Witnesses said earlier the same day Chien and the brothers were gambling when they began fighting, prompting people in the area to intervene.

 

As they stopped playing, the brothers set off for their home, but Chien pursued them and continued quarrelling, the witnesses said, adding that Chien was then on a motorbike and wearing a military uniform.

 

Tran Kim Cuc, a witness, said Chien then slapped Tien, starting a fight.

 

Some people tried to stop them, but they couldn’t do anything when Chien took out a gun, she added.

 

When Tien and Si ran away, Chien fired the gun. Two shots hit Tien’s right thigh, and another one struck Si’s chest when the latter looked back upon hearing the gunfire, according to Cuc.

 

Nguyen Anh Dao, deputy chief of Binh Minh District’s police division, said the case has been handed over to military forces for further investigation because a military man was involved.

 

Local police were in charge of securing the crime scene and conducting initial investigations only,  he added.