‘Maan police shooting suspect expected to turn himself in very soon’

AMMAN — A 21-year-old man who allegedly shot police officers, killing one and injuring another at a busy market in Maan, is expected to turn himself in very soon, an official said. 

The suspect, who is still wanted by the police, reportedly approached a highway patrol vehicle on Saturday August 5, in downtown Maan, some 220km south of Amman.

He allegedly “sprayed the vehicle with bullets from a machinegun”, then fled on foot.

Warrant officer Jafar Rababah died in hospital and a second officer who was in the vehicle with him was critically injured.

“Negotiations are ongoing between the authorities and the family of the suspect in order for him to turn himself in peacefully,” former Maan mayor Majed Sharari said.

Sharari, who is running again for the post of mayor in the upcoming elections, told The Jordan Times that “the authorities do not want to escalate the situation and prefer to resolve it peacefully to prevent any further escalation or injuries.”

“I believe it is a matter of time before the suspect turns himself in today [Tuesday] or tomorrow [Wednesday] maximum,” Sharari told The Jordan Times.

The former mayor said the suspect probably attacked the vehicle “at random because he learnt that police were looking for him two days before the incident”.

Police spokesperson Amer Sartawi was unavailable for comment on the latest developments.

Maan has previously witnessed several fatal attacks on police officers. Three years ago, Second Lieutenant Nart Haitham Nafash was shot dead in a Gendarmerie patrol car by an outlaw.