A police officer in Turkana accidentally shot two of his colleagues while they were pursuing a murder suspect in Lokori area on Wednesday.
It is alleged that the officer identified as George Odhiambo shot Joseph Rutto and Hosea Kipchumba when he accidentally discharge four rounds of ammunition. Kipchumba later succumbed to the gunshots wounds.
The three police officers were among others who had responded to a distress call of the from area chief Lucas Ngirera, that a man had been murdered by a friend.
According to the police report, 28-year old Kaachala Eiton engaged in a fight with 22-year old Lowana Oyan. Kaachala is said to have fatally injured Lowana leading to his death.
“Police officers from Lokori Police Station and detectives drawn from DCI Turkana East rushed to the scene within Lokwili village and found the suspect had locked himself from inside his house armed with a sword,” the report reads.
The report further reveals that the police ordered Kaachala to surrender but he stormed out of his house brandishing a sword.
It was at that instance that Odhiambo who was on the frontline subduing the suspect discharged rounds from his AK-47 rifle.
“The four bullets ricocheted on the rocky hard surface and hit Josphat Rutto on the left leg and Hosea Kipchumba at the right side of the chest,’ the report further read.
The injured officers were rushed to Lokori sub-county hospital where they were treated and later referred to Lodwar County Referral Hospital for further treatment but Kipchumba succumbed to the injuries while he was being rushed to the referral hospital.
“The suspect was later placed in police custody while the cop’s body had been moved to Lodwar Referral Hospital morgue awaiting postmortem,” the report further read.
The suspect will be arraigned in court to answer to the murder charges.
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