By Stephen G. Fellajuah
An officer of the Liberia Nationwide Police (LNP) has reportedly shot and killed a suspected mentally ailing man, recognized as Matthew Mulbah, after the deceased allegedly stabbed three officers throughout a violent altercation close to the outdated LACC constructing in Congo City.
In line with Police Inspector Normal Gregory O. W. Coleman, the incident occurred on Wednesday, October 8, at 2:58 p.m., following a distressed name, indicating that an officer had been stabbed a number of instances.
When officers arrived on the scene, they ordered the suspect to give up. Nevertheless, he allegedly ignored their instructions and charged at them with a cutlass, wounding a second officer within the arm, as he tried to guard his head.
A 3rd officer managed to disarm the suspect by seizing the cutlass. However the suspect then reportedly pulled a hid knife from his trousers, stabbed the officer within the thigh, and tried to strike once more towards his stomach.
Confronted with what police described as “fast mortal hazard,” one of many responding officers opened fireplace, killing the suspect on the spot to stop additional hurt.
All three injured officers, together with the suspect, had been taken to the John F. Kennedy Medical Heart. One officer stays in essential situation following emergency surgical procedure. Mulbah was pronounced useless after remedy.
Inspector Normal Coleman prolonged condolences to the suspect’s household and warranted the general public that the LNP had launched a full investigation into the capturing. He additionally known as for calm and prayers for the wounded officers.
The person killed within the incident was later recognized as Matthew Mulbah.
Former Schooling Minister George Kronnisanyon Werner, an in depth pal of the deceased, shared a transferring tribute, shedding gentle on Mulbah’s current struggles with what’s believed to have been a psychological well being disaster.
“Matthew was my pal, an in depth pal. We lived in the identical neighborhood, and I not often took a stroll with out him. Each time my automobile or generator gave me bother, he was the primary particular person I known as”, the ex-minister wrote.
A few week in the past, a mutual pal known as to inform me that Matthew had fallen ailing and that his conduct had turn out to be unusual, virtually violent, he stated. Mr. Werner added that the late Matthew was stated to be affected by malaria, probably cerebral malaria.
“Involved, I reached out to a number of folks to verify on him. It was confirmed that he was mentally unstable. This morning, just a few buddies pooled assets to assist take him to the hospital. However once they arrived, he grew to become agitated and violent, injuring a few of them within the course of. They’d no alternative however to name the police”, stated Werner.
The police response was not dealt with with obligatory professionalism. In attempting to disarm him, to take the knife from him, a number of officers had been reportedly stabbed. Within the chaos, they shot him within the abdomen. He was taken to a hospital, the place he later died. Sources say Matthew was a delicate large.
The demise of Matthew Mulbah has prompted robust emotional reactions from the general public and has reignited conversations round the usage of deadly pressure by police in Liberia, the dealing with of psychological well being crises, and the necessity for skilled and compassionate policing methods.
Whereas a proper investigation is ongoing, many are questioning whether or not this tragedy might have been prevented, and what reforms are wanted to make sure such incidents don’t proceed.
The case of Matthew Mulbah serves as a stark reminder of the delicate intersection between psychological well being and public security, and the value that may be paid when programs fail. Enhancing by Jonathan Browne
