Two individuals have reportedly lost their lives after being struck by stray bullets allegedly fired by the police during a confrontation with an agitated crowd in the Kwahu South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The incident unfolded at the chief’s palace, where the police were attempting to rescue an alleged suspect accused of murdering two people in Adwumasu, a farming community in the Kwahu South Municipality.
Community members, upon learning of the arrest, stormed the palace, demanding the immediate release of the suspect for instant justice.
The police, who intervened, prevented the release, leading to community members growing impatient and pelting the police with stones. The crowd ended up destroying a service vehicle and four police motorbikes.
To disperse the crowd, the police fired warning shots, inadvertently injuring five people. Two of the injured individuals have reportedly passed away, while three others are receiving treatment at the Kwahu Government Hospital in Atibie.
The suspect, 23-year-old Kwasi Tenkorang, is said to be an ex-convict accused of raping and murdering a 45-year-old woman named Akua Kyerewaa.
A 65-year-old brother of the victim, Kwasi Antwi, who attempted to rescue his sister, was also fatally struck on the head with a metal bar during the incident.
The suspect, who had been on the run since the incident, was reportedly arrested on Sunday, February 4, and taken to the chief’s palace.