Mob lynches thief in Nyeri after failed robbery, pistol recovered
Tetu OCPD, Stephen Obara displays an automatic Jericho pistol that was recovered from an armed robber who was lynched by an angry mob in Kiriko Village in Nyeri after a failed robbery attempt on a shop on August 14, 2016. PHOTO | NICHOLAS KOMU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The shopkeeper, said to be a former GSU, officer challenged the robber who opened fire, injuring him on the hand.
- Members of the public acted swiftly, descending on one of the suspects with stones and other crude weapons.
- Nine rounds of ammunition and three spent cartridges were also recovered from the slain robber.
- The police boss said that more fire arms were still in the hands of criminals, most of them stolen from licensed gun holders.
Residents of Kiriko Village in Tetu, Nyeri County Sunday night lynched an armed robber after an attempted robbery as police recovered a pistol.
Two people, a man and his wife, also suffered gunshot wounds in the failed robbery attempt at around 8pm on Sunday.
The suspected robber, whose identity could not be immediately established, was in the company of two other men who had attempted to rob a shop.
Riding on a motorcycle, the gang entered the shop posing as customers but one pulled out a pistol and ordered the shopkeeper to hand over all the money.
The shopkeeper, said to be a former GSU, officer challenged the robber who opened fire, injuring him on the hand.
His wife, who was in the shop, raised the alarm but was also shot in the neck by the robber.
Members of the public acted swiftly, descending on one of the suspects with stones and other crude weapons.
AP OFFICERS RESPOND
Administration Police (AP) officers from a nearby police post also responded, engaging the suspects to a vicious gunfight.
One of the suspects was stoned to death while the other two managed to escape on a motorcycle, still firing at the public and police.
The injured couple were rushed to Nyeri County Referral Hospital and were later transferred to Mathari Mission Hospital.
According to Tetu Divisional Police Commander, Stephen Obara, the automatic Jericho pistol that was recovered had been stolen from a businessman in 2015.
Nine rounds of ammunition and three spent cartridges were also recovered from the slain robber.
“This firearm was stolen from a businessman last year and has been used in many robberies around the county,” said Mr Obara.
This was the third firearm to be recovered from robbery gangs in the last three months as police continue to pursue criminal gangs.
The police boss said that more fire arms were still in the hands of criminals, most of them stolen from licensed gun holders.
“Many civilian gun holders do not observe necessary safety measures with these weapons which when lost become a risk to the public,” said the police boss.
He said that they were still pursuing other suspects who are believed to be armed with pistols.
