JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A man with a pump gun shot himself with it rather than surrender to the police, in front of a 24-hour restaurant in Bukit Kempas here.

In the incident that took place at 5am on Friday (Dec 25), the man was spotted by a police patrol unit near the eatery in Jalan Desa Kempas 1 holding a gun.

Johor Baru North OCPD Assistant Commissioner Mohd Taib Ahmad said his men asked the suspect to hand over the weapon but he refused to do so.

"Police back-up was called and five more units arrived at the scene and surrounded the suspect.

"When the policemen told the suspect to turn himself in, he released a shot in the air before pointing the pump gun to his mouth and letting out another shot," said ACP Mohd Taib.

He said the suspect, in his 40s and a local, died on the spot.

"We believe that the man was at the location for a robbery attempt but this was thwarted by the presence of police," he said.