A police operation to recover a stolen
bicycle turned deadly after the officers in the exercise came under attack from
a group of youths in Mbeere South Subcounty, Embu county.
The incident occurred on Saturday night at Mutuobare Shopping Centre, where police had tracked a suspect, who was alleged to have stolen a bicycle.
According to police, a team traced the suspect to his rented house and found the stolen bicycle outside the locked residence.
Police alleged the suspect refused repeated orders to open the door.
As the officers attempted to resolve the situation, a group of about 10 youths, allegedly armed with pangas and stones, advanced towards them in what police described as an attempted attack.
Police said one of the officers fired four warning shots into the air, but the group allegedly continued advancing.
The officer then opened fire, fatally shooting Geofrey Murimi, who sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of the chest, with the bullet exiting through his back.
The suspected bicycle thief was also shot in the left shoulder, with the bullet exiting through his upper arm.
He was treated at Kiambere Medical Clinic before being referred to Embu Level V Hospital, where police said he was admitted in stable condition.
A search of the suspect’s house allegedly led to the recovery of about 600 grams of cannabis (bhang), a blood-stained panga, a blood-stained Maasai sword, four packets of rolling papers, a rolling mat and a pair of scissors, according to police.
The body of the deceased was moved to Embu Level V Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Investigations into the shooting and the alleged robbery are ongoing.
Police say crime incidents have been on the rise in the area prompting operations to address the same.
This has led to the arrest of
dozens of suspects. The cases are pending in courts, police said on Sunday, adding some are unsolved.
Meanwhile, police have launched investigations into the murder of a 35-year-old man who was fatally shot with an arrow outside his home in Lamu West Subcounty.
The victim, Paul Mwangi Kimani, was attacked on Saturday evening at about 7 pm in Zebra B Village, Lamu county.
According to police, a woman who was inside the house preparing a meal reported that the deceased had been seated outside when he suddenly rushed into the house holding the left side of his chest before collapsing in his bedroom.
She raised an alarm, prompting neighbours to respond.
They found that an arrow was lodged in the left side of his chest.
He succumbed to the injuries after bleeding heavily.
Police visited the scene, where they recovered the arrow believed to have been used in the attack.
The scene was documented, and the body was moved to the Mpeketoni Subcounty Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Police have launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify those responsible.
