National Military Police Captain Chan Chea, 35, was arrested on Tuesday night for allegedly shooting a provincial-level military police officer in a dance floor dispute in Prey Veng province’s Peamro district.

“He got very drunk and he went to dance with a crowd of youths who were dancing to celebrate the Pchum Ben festival,” Peamror district Military Police Chief Chhuon Kimsan said.

“During the dance, he got into a conflict with the crowd of youths. He then drew a pistol from his waist, threatening to shoot them. He fired seven bullets into the ground, but one of the bullets ricocheted to hit a district military police officer’s left leg."

The victim, Breng Vireak, 35, of the Peamro District Military Police, was sent to the provincial referral hospital.

National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito said yesterday that Chea was being detained at the National Military Police headquarters in Phnom Penh but would be sent to military court for questioning and potential charges today.

“He was preliminarily accused of a shooting spree and illegal weapon use,” he said.