- Police said the suspect together with his accomplices barricaded a road within the Sabaki area in the Athi River South subcounty.
- They then ordered the officers on patrol to surrender all their belongings before one of them was fatally shot.
Image: The Star
A suspected thug has been shot dead and a toy pistol recovered by police officers in Athi River, Machakos County.
Police said the suspect together with his accomplices had barricaded a road within the Sabaki area in the Athi River South subcounty and ordered the officers to surrender all their belongings before he was fatally shot.
The incident that occurred at around 2.30am on Monday was reported to the Athi River police station as a shooting incident.
“It was reported by OCPP Sabaki Police post that today at around 0230 hrs while they were on mobile patrol in an unmarked motor vehicle along Total - Suraya murrum road, they found the road being barricaded with huge stones,” a police report seen by the Star read in part.
It continued, “They were stopped and ordered by the thugs who were around ten in number to surrender everything they had in their possession as one of the thugs drew what appeared to be a pistol pointing at the officers while others were armed with crude weapons. It prompted the officers to open fire. The thugs vanished in the bushy field.
The OCS, Duty officer, DCI officers and CSI visited the scene and combed the area where one African male adult aged approximately 30 years was found fatally injured and a recovery of a toy pistol and assorted crude weapons to wit 2 pangas, rungus and bow and one arrow found scattered.
Police said they suspect others escaped with injuries.
The scene was documented and the body which had no identification documents moved to Shalom Community Hospital Mortuary awaiting autopsy.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations sleuths attached to Athi River police station have launched investigations into the incident.
The incident happened as residents of Sabaki estate and its environs decry increased cases of insecurity lately, especially on the said road linking the estate to Mombasa Road near the Signature Mall.
On the night of August 30, 2024, a group of youth attacked Sabaki residents along the road.
Police said they blocked the road using stones as they targeted motorists robbing them of their valuables.
The situation escalated further when they attacked a lady near Four Winds estate seriously injuring her.
Police urged all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.