A police officer on Wednesday, September 8, mistakenly shot dead his colleague and injured another as they pursued a murder suspect in Lokori within Turkana County.
George Odhiambo mistakenly shot the two officers identified as Joseph Rutto and Hosea Kipchumba after accidentally discharging four rounds of ammunition. Kipchumba later succumbed to the injuries.
The officers were amongst their other colleagues who had answered a distress call from area chief t Lucas Ngirera, that a civilian had been murdered by a friend.
Kaachala Eiton ,28, had fought with Lowana Oyan, 22, and allegedly fatally injured him.
“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 read in part.
It further revealed that Eiton was ordered to surrender in vain and only stormed out wielding the sword.
It is during that struggle that Odhiambo who was on the frontline subduing the suspect discharged rounds from his AK-47.
“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.
Both officers were rushed to Lokori sub-county hospital where they were treated and later referred to Lodwar County Referral Hospital for further treatment but Hosea 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.
Already, the murder suspect is being grilled and he is scheduled to be arraigned in court.
