Two LGBT individuals were shot dead and another injured in a gun attack in Mawlamyine, Mon State, on the night of November 9, according to local residents.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m. when three LGBT individuals, who ran a beauty salon, were returning home from a local festival market in Hlaing Ward on a motorbike. They were reportedly followed by two men on another motorbike who opened fire as the victims arrived near their salon.

“They were coming back from the festival market. A motorbike was following them from behind. When they stopped in front of their beauty salon, the men behind suddenly shot at them,” a local resident who learned of the account from one of the injured victims told the Independent Mon News Agency.

The shooting killed two victims, identified as Ma Maet Arr Yun and Tin Ko Ko Oo, both around 30 years old, on the spot. The third victim, Zwe Wai Yan Htet, sustained injuries and was taken to Mawlamyine General Hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be stable.

Residents said the three victims operated the “Myin Thu Lan Beauty Salon” located at the end of 9th Street, Mahar Myine Road, in Myaynigone Ward.

Police reportedly recovered four 9mm bullet casings and one live round from the scene.

The motive behind the attack remains unknown, and the perpetrators have not yet been arrested.

“People in the area didn’t know what was happening at first. Only after about an hour did police and others arrive. No one knows why they were shot. The bodies were found separately nearby, suggesting they tried to run after being attacked,” said a woman living near the scene.

Although previous shootings in Mawlamyine have sometimes been linked to accusations of being informants for the military junta, local sources believe this incident is unrelated to politics.

However, residents noted that crimes such as theft and robbery have become increasingly common in the city.