Russei Keo district police are searching for a man who accidentally shot a pregnant woman during a brawl with the owner of an arcade on Sunday night, which reportedly caused her to have a miscarriage.

Russei Keo District Police Chief Tieng Chansa declined to identify the suspect or confirm his occupation, citing fears it would impede the investigation.

But the owner of the arcade claimed the suspect was a soldier or policeman named “Heng” who often came to the arcade to demand bribes, an account that reflects statements made by villagers to local media outlets.

Arcade owner Sang Rith, 38, said that the man regularly came by his shop to demand money in exchange for him not reporting gambling to his superiors.

After Rith protested that he didn’t have enough to pay him on Sunday, the man “got angry and argued”, the arcade owner said.

“He went at me and took out and pointed the gun at my head. For my own defence, I reacted and the brawl just began,” Rith said.

Rith said that the suspect fired one round during the brawl, missing him, but hitting a woman who was crossing the railroad named Nhor Chantha, 25, who lives above his arcade.

The offender fled the scene on his motorbike, leaving a gun and walkie-talkie behind, according to Rith.

Both Rith and local media reported that the woman, who was three months pregnant, lost the baby as a result of her injuries. Police said they did not have information about the baby.