Police have unveiled new details surrounding the tragic murder of 14-year-old junior high student ZAAQ. The incident occurred on February 9, 2026, in the former Kampung Gajah tourist area, specifically Cihideung Village, Parongpong District, West Bandung Regency. This devastating event involved two perpetrators, both of whom are still minors. Authorities are now diligently investigating the motive behind the crime and the complex relationship dynamics between the victim and the suspects as part of their ongoing inquiry. Here’s a summary of the revelations.
Motive Behind the Junior High Student’s Murder in Ex-Kampung Gajah: Resentment Over a Broken Long-Standing Friendship
The primary motive for the murder of the 14-year-old junior high student, ZAAQ, has been identified as the perpetrator’s deep-seated resentment and personal revenge. This intense animosity reportedly stemmed from ZAAQ’s decision to end a long-standing friendship that had originated years ago in Garut. Cimahi Police Chief AKBP Niko N. Adi Putra explained, “The perpetrator and victim had a relationship and knew each other in Garut. Even after the victim moved to Bandung, the perpetrator continued to meet him frequently, despite the significant distance.”
Despite the victim’s relocation, the frequent meetings between ZAAQ and the perpetrator failed to foster a harmonious relationship. Instead, over time, the perpetrator nurtured profound resentment and a desire for revenge against ZAAQ. The turning point in their escalating conflict, as stated by the Police Chief, came when ZAAQ explicitly expressed his intention to terminate their friendship, triggering an intense fury in the perpetrator. It was revealed that ZAAQ and the perpetrator, identified as YA (16), had known each other since elementary school. However, their friendship continued to fuel emotional discord, especially after ZAAQ transferred to a school in Bandung. ZAAQ’s definitive decision to end the relationship further inflamed YA’s emotions, ultimately leading to the emergence of malicious intent. Niko reiterated, “Ultimately, the perpetrator became truly enraged and vengeful. When the victim declared that he no longer wanted to be friends, that intensified the perpetrator’s anger.”
Student Murder Case in Ex-Kampung Gajah: Perpetrator Previously Assaulted Victim
The victim’s uncle, Yusuf, shared that the roots of the conflict dated back many years, highlighting a disturbing incident where one of the perpetrators physically assaulted ZAAQ when they were still in elementary school. Yusuf, speaking on behalf of ZAAQ’s paternal family, explained, “ZAAQ moved to Bandung because YA hit him in the 6th grade of elementary school. He was hit near the eye, and it swelled up significantly. From that point, the family grew concerned and ultimately decided to move him to Bandung for junior high.”
In an effort to ensure ZAAQ’s safety, the family had previously reached an agreement to prevent the perpetrator from contacting him. However, the perpetrator later bypassed this arrangement, meeting ZAAQ without the family’s knowledge and reigniting the conflict that tragically culminated in the murder. Yusuf revealed ZAAQ’s growing discomfort, stating, “Shortly before the incident, the victim wanted to distance himself from the perpetrator because the situation felt unnatural and strange.”
Student Murder Case in Ex-Kampung Gajah: Perpetrator Known for Troubled Behavior
According to ZAAQ’s uncle, the victim had been enduring significant mental pressure due to the unhealthy nature of their relationship and continuous threats from the perpetrator leading up to the incident. Despite these challenges, ZAAQ, being young, primarily viewed the perpetrator as merely a friend, yet he was deeply affected by the traumatic experiences. Yusuf confirmed this, stating, “ZAAQ just thought of him as a regular friend, because ZAAQ was still young.” The family also affirmed that ZAAQ had actively tried to distance himself from the perpetrator, finding their relationship abnormal and deeply uncomfortable.
Reiterating ZAAQ’s mounting distress, Yusuf added, “Right before the incident, the victim wanted to keep his distance from the perpetrator because it had become abnormal and strange.” The family also received reports indicating that the perpetrator exhibited consistently problematic behavior within his school environment. While Yusuf admitted not knowing the precise details of these behaviors, he noted, “I heard from people at his school that the perpetrator was indeed troublesome.” Furthermore, ZAAQ’s friends corroborated that the perpetrator frequently issued threats before the tragic event, leaving the family deeply lamenting the perpetrator’s overly aggressive and unnatural conduct.
Summary
Police have unveiled new details surrounding the tragic murder of 14-year-old student ZAAQ, which occurred on February 9, 2026, in West Bandung Regency, involving two minor perpetrators. The primary motive for the crime was the perpetrator YA’s deep-seated resentment and personal revenge. This animosity stemmed from ZAAQ’s decision to end their long-standing friendship, which had begun years ago in Garut. YA’s anger escalated when ZAAQ explicitly stated his intention to terminate their relationship.
The conflict’s roots trace back to elementary school when YA previously assaulted ZAAQ, prompting ZAAQ’s family to move him for safety. Despite attempts to keep them apart, YA continued to contact ZAAQ, reigniting the conflict. ZAAQ had grown uncomfortable and wished to distance himself from YA, who was known for troubled behavior and frequently issued threats. This ongoing pressure and the final rejection culminated in the tragic event.