By John Dennis Weah
MONROVIA – It has been reported that 17-year-old James Kandy was shot dead in the ELWA Rehab Community allegedly by Officer Ismael Trawally of the Liberia National Police on July 1, 2024.
The teenager was reportedly shot in the chest right in his yard while he was trying to repair the zincs around his mother’s house that was damaged by last Monday rainstorm in Monrovia.
James who met his untimely death on the sad evening had just left school when the officer moved in the neighborhood to affect an arrest in favor of Marwolo Jallah who earlier complained to the police against a resident for allegedly insulting his mother,
Eye-witness Morris Samoukai, a resident of the community said, “Yesterday, around 6:45pm, I was right on the avenue where there was a football practice game ongoing. So we saw the guys running and the HR from Zone 8 and another police officer who name I don’t know.This unknown officer came on the avenue and said to Tarku J-(Jonathan Koffa), ‘Tarkun it is because of you I have not killed somebody yet’. But the reason why he made such an utterance was best known to himself. I don’t know why he said such thing because Tarkun J wasn’t part of the whole thing. Tarkun J is always coming here to practice on the playing court.”
Morris further explained that it was upon the request of Marwolo Jallah, a renowned and influential resident who complained about a gentleman (name unknown) to the armed police officers for which they came to arrest the guy when the confusion started on grounds that the defendant had refused to ride in the car of the complainant (Marwolo).
According to Morris, the person they came to arrest had already agreed to follow them but the police officers ordered him to ride in the car owned by Mr. Jallah which he rejected, triggering an argument between him and the police, and drawing some residents’ attention.
“Marwolo insulted his mother and he returned the same insult to Marwolo’s parents. Marwolo got angry and called the police and the boy did not resist the arrest but he insisted that he wouldn’t accept getting into Marwolo’s car to be taken at the police station.
It drew the attention of some closed residents who backed the boy’s action that he was right and wouldn’t get in the car. The argument apparently got the armed officer angry, and he immediately raised the weapon to disperse the group and everyone started running away when he released the gunshots that hit the little boy in his chest. I heard the sound of two rounds, and he fired the gun at sea level.”
A sister to the deceased, Grace Cooper, also explained: “Yesterday, we were sitting on the porch. James Kandy (the deceased) left to go and fix our mother’s house. Two policemen came running from the avenue in the community and one of them shot and killed James instantly. We ran out when we heard him crying that he was dying. I rushed and held the bright police officer by his uniform, crying that he killed my brother!
“But he told me that he wasn’t the one who did the shooting, so I left him. Just at the same time, my uncle appeared and engaged the officer who shot my brother, but he threatened to shoot my uncle if he attempted to hold him.”
The17-year-old James Kandy, popularly known as ‘Baby D’, was a student of the Kenda-Ja Public High School. His mother explained in tears that her son was doing after-school work in the yard trying to repair the zinc around her house when he got shot in the chest.
She said James was a dedicated child who helped her to sell other things like GSM credit cards and data to sustain the family.
“All I want is ‘Justice’ for my son because he doesn’t drink nor smoke and wasn’t a part of the confusion between the two men that had the problem,” she lamented.
The Community Chairman of the ELWA Rehab Community Prince Ajaiii added: “I was not on the scene. I came this morning and heard the story. When I came, the national police had taken over the entire incident. The family is presently cooperating with the police. However, the police had claimed responsibility. It was one of the police officers and I understand he had been disrobed. He is behind bars and we want to see what happens next.
“I am feeling hurt, and broken down by the incident, seeing a child from our community being gunned down by a police officer in broad daylight. We need justice and we are not going to rest because the family and community people are angry and I just trying to talk to them so that they don’t take the law into their own hands.”
Meanwhile, the Liberia National Police issued an official statement on July 2, 2024 stating that it was investigating the unfortunate incident that occurred in the Rehab Community, Paynesville, resulting in the tragic death of James Kandy on July 1, 2024.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm this loss,” the LNP said in a release.
Preliminary information suggests that the LNP responded to a violent situation involving threats against a resident of the community by individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking.
Regrettably, during the response, the LNP said, Officer Ismael Trawally discharged his firearm, leading to the unintended death of James Kandy at ELWA Hospital.
“The Liberia National Police is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness and has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding this incident,” the release said.
“We are dedicated to maintaining transparency and accountability throughout this process and will provide updates to the public as necessary. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of James Kandy during this challenging period,” the release emphasized.
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