A homeless scavenger was in a stable condition on Wednesday after being shot in the chest by what Phnom Penh police described as an accidentally discharged gun.
An eyewitness told police that the gun was dropped after a group of three men on two motorbikes crashed into each other on Street 51 in Daun Penh district’s Chaktomuk commune on Wednesday morning, according to district police chief Chuop Sokunthea.
“After the motorbikes fell over, the gun fell onto the street. A man picked the gun off the street and it fired accidentally and injured the scavenger,” he said.
Mr. Sokunthea said the bullet passed through the chest of 49-year-old Rom Phoeun, who was sleeping on the ground.
He said the three men then fled the scene and that police did not know their identities.
Ms. Phoeun’s husband, Chum Uoth, said he was sleeping next to his wife when she was shot and accused the three men of trying to kill her.
“I don’t know why they tried to kill her,” he said. “My wife has never had any argument with anyone.”
Ms. Phoeun was in a stable condition at Calmette Hospital on Wednesday.
