Suspect turns himself in after Halabja double homicide

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A suspect turned himself in to police in Halabja on Thursday, two days after allegedly killing two people and injuring another in a shooting.

Two men were shot dead and a third was wounded early Tuesday in Halabja province. Police spokesperson Akam Qutbadin told Rudaw that one of the deceased was 20 years old, and the injured man is 31. Halabja city mayor Simko Salar confirmed that another person was also wounded.

“After the incident, our investigations continued, we reviewed all surveillance cameras, took witness statements, and identified the killer,” Qutbadin told Rudaw on Thursday. “But after 48 hours, the killer turned himself in to the police.”

The suspect, identified as Sh.F.A, was born in 2003 and is from Halabja.

The spokesperson said the suspect confessed to the crime before an investigative judge and has been detained under Article 406 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which covers premeditated murder. The investigation is ongoing.

On Tuesday, Halabja police said two other suspects had been arrested earlier in connection with the case.

Despite efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to regulate gun ownership, illegal firearms remain widespread.

A significant portion of the population is believed to possess weapons, fueled by a thriving black market that includes everything from handguns to sniper rifles.