19 YEAR OLD PUPIL SHOT DEAD WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY
A Police Officer in Masaiti District has shot dead a 19 year old pupil who was in Police custody at Edgar Chagwa Lungu community Police post.
Kennedy Chibuye 37 of Kafulafuta Police Camp shot Ronald Chishimba, a grade nine pupil under GCE of Mushili Primary School using an AK-47 firearm.
Disclosing the incident to ZANIS in Masaiti, Copperbelt Province Police Commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba says the incident happened on Tuesday evening July 11, 2023 around 20:00 hours.
Mr. Mweemba says according to reports received, the deceased allegedly tried to escape from lawful custody when he was shot.
He stated that the Police Officer has since been arrested and in Police custody while the body of the deceased has been deposited to Ndola Teaching Hospital awaiting postmortem.
Meanwhile, Lyson Chishiba, father to the deceased, has expressed sadness at the premature death of his son.
Mr. Chishiba said the death of his son Ronald could have been avoided if the police officers on duty were not drunk.
“It is really hard to understand how my son whilst in the police cell managed to break into the ceiling board to escape from custody as alleged by the Police at the station where he was shot,” Mr. Chishiba said
Mr. Chishiba noted that the family is grieved at the loss of their child and hopes that justice prevails.
He said the community in Mukolwe area are now living in fear that the Police they thought would protect them have resorted to shooting them.
Masaiti District Commissioner Ennie Matutu expressed sadness at the development.
She said the shooting incident by the officer was uncalled, adding that the deceased was not armed.
Ms. Matutu has, however, condemned the acts of vandalism that occurred at the Police post by the community during the night of the incident.
She urged the community not to take the law in their own hands when aggrieved.
Ronald Chishiba will today be put to rest after a postmortem in Masaiti District.
ZANIS