ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Three people were shot and killed Wednesday night during a fight at a gas station on the Erbil-Koya road, according to police in the Kurdistan Region. Authorities said the suspected shooter was arrested shortly after the incident.

The incident happened around 9 p.m. when a car with two men inside arrived to fill up with gas. During the process, two or three liters of gasoline spilled on the ground, with Erbil police saying that the customers refused to pay for the spilled quantity, resulting in a disagreement with staff.

A police source told The New Region that the customers pushed a gas station worker who intervened to break up the altercation, with the shoved worker subsequently taking a gun from a cabinet used by night security guards and firing at the customers. 

The two men in the car were killed, along with a nearby bystander.

Sources said the two men were Arab tourists visiting the Kurdistan Region. One of them was identified as Hamoudi Riyadh, a former Iraqi bodybuilding champion. The Iraqi Bodybuilding Federation confirmed his death and posted a tribute on Wednesday night.

Colonel Karzan Saleh, a spokesperson for Erbil Police Directorate, explained why a gun was kept at the gas station. He said security guards protect the station at night starting from midnight, and they keep their equipment stored there. He added that the shooting happened before the guard’s shift started and that the guard was not present at the time.

Lt. Col. Abu Bakr Suleiman, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Police, told The New Region on Thursday that the suspect has been arrested and that investigations are ongoing. He said the suspect had no previous issues with the victims and does not suffer from any mental health problems.

He also said the security guard involved works for a private company and was not on duty at the time. The court will decide what charges, if any, will be brought against him.

Authorities said full details will be released after the investigation is complete.