Published: July 1, 2024
MONROVIA – A 17-year-old boy, identified as James Karnley, was allegedly shot by an officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP) during a raid conducted alongside the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on King Buju Avenue in the Rehab community.
According to a family member, Karnley was pronounced dead on arrival at the ELWA Hospital after being rushed there by the police. The incident occurred on Monday evening.
An eyewitness, Grace Cooper, informed the Liberian Investigator that law enforcement officers were conducting a raid at a well-known ghetto in the area when they began pursuing alleged drug addicts attempting to flee.
“They were running behind two boys, and the officer opened fire on them. That’s how the bullet hit my brother, who was putting sand in plastic bags to place on top of the zinc because of the rain. The only thing we heard was ‘My people, I’m dying’,” she told The Liberian Investigator.
Cooper mentioned that the police officers were from the Zone 8 Police depot. She added that when the uncle of the deceased, along with an angry crowd, confronted the officer, he pulled out his gun, threatened them, and fled the scene in a keh-keh.
The situation escalated, causing tension between community residents and the police, which led to the use of tear gas to disperse the crowd. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more details emerge
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