A police officer mistakenly shot dead his colleague and injured another on September 8, 2021, while they were responding to a murder call in the Lokori area, Turkana County.
The officer, since identified as George Odhiambo accidentally discharged four rounds of ammunition at his colleagues Joseph Rutto and Hosea Kipchumba. Kipchumba succumbed to injuries later on.
The policemen were among a team of officers that was alerted by area chief Lucas Ngirera, that a member of the public had killed a friend. According to a police report seen by our newsroom, Kaachala Eiton,28, fought and fatally wounded Lowana Oyan, 22.
“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.
The police revealed that Eiton was ordered to surrender but chose to come out wielding a sword. That is when Odhiambo who was pursuing the two from the front of the house, discharged four rounds of ammunition from his AK47 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 two officers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to Lokori sub-county hospital where they were treated and referred to Lodwar County Referal Hospital. Kipchumba succumbed to his injuries on the way 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,” read the report.
The murder suspect was apprehended and is set for trial.
