A National Police Reservist officer has been arrested after allegedly shooting dead a 50-year-old man following an argument at Mitamisyi Market in Kyuso Sub-County, Kitui County.
Police said John Muteti Kioko was found lying on the ground at Mitamisyi Centre on Tuesday evening with a single gunshot wound to the lower abdomen.
The bullet reportedly entered through the left lower stomach and exited through the right buttock.
According to police, Kioko had earlier been involved in an argument with the NPR officer. The dispute allegedly escalated after Kioko slapped the officer and drew a penknife while threatening to stab him.
Police said the officer then left for his house, about 70 metres from the scene, where he picked up a G3 rifle officially issued to him for official duties.
He allegedly returned to the market and shot Kioko before fleeing towards Ngomeni Township.
The officer was later arrested after police received a tip-off.
At the time of his arrest, police said he was carrying the G3 rifle with a magazine containing 19 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition.
A second magazine containing 20 rounds was recovered from his house in Mitamisyi.
Crime scene officers processed and documented the scene, recovering one spent cartridge and the penknife allegedly carried by Kioko.
The exhibits were taken into police custody, while the suspect was detained at Ngomeni Police Station pending arraignment in court.
Kioko’s body was moved to the Kyuso Sub-County Level Four Hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.
Police said they were investigating the incident as murder as detectives continued to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Man dies after alleged assault over beans in Meru
Elsewhere, a 49-year-old man died after he was allegedly assaulted by two people who suspected him of stealing two kilos of beans in Imenti East, Meru County.
Peter Kinyua was reportedly attacked at Kathitha village in Mukua Sub-location, Mulathankari Location.
Police said Kinyua sustained injuries to his back, ribs and upper body during the alleged assault.
He later succumbed to his injuries.
DCI officers processed and documented the scene before Kinyua’s body was moved to the mortuary at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, where it was preserved pending a postmortem examination.
Police said they had identified the alleged attackers and that investigations were ongoing.
