GSU cop seized over m*****s as another suspect s**t dead
By Zadock Angira and Christine Musa
Police yesterday shot dead a suspect and recovered two General Service Unit (GSU) AK47 rifles that were used in last Saturday night’s shooting that left two women dead and a man seriously injured in Katani, Machakos county.
A GSU officer who reportedly organised the attack and had earlier been arrested led detectives to the hideout where the other suspects were, and the firearms kept.
Detectives from the Special Crime Prevention Unit recovered several bullets and face masks during the raid led by DCI’s director of operations Danson Ndiru.
One of the recovered AK47 rifles, serial number 20010977, was stolen from Constable Stephen Mukangi, who was shot dead on the night of July 27 at Wilson Airport watch tower.
The deceased officer was with his colleague Constable Samson Morongo, who was later charged with Mukangi’s killing.
The dawn raid took place just a few kilometres from the victims’ residence.
Ndiru termed the operation“a major breakthrough in busting crime”.
Shoot self
The suspected officer, Antony Kilonzo, was arrested at Komarock Modern Hospital in Utawala where he had gone to seek treatment with a bullet lodged in his thigh.
“We were informed that there was a civilian seeking treatment over a bullet lodged on his body. We managed to arrest the suspect who gave us crucial links over the murder of two women,” said Ndiru.
Detectives said the officer deleted about eight messages from his phone, suspected to have been linked to the planning of the shooting. In one of the messages, the suspect sent a message to a Mr. Maina that read: “Ni kubaya. Si kuzuri sana”.
Detectives are also trying to establish the identity of one of the gunmen, who his accomplice referred to as “Erick” during the raid.
When Kilonzo first went to the hospital, he identified himself as a police officer and told the doctor he had accidentally shot himself while on duty. The hospital questioned why he was not accompanied by his colleagues to the hospital.
At least four people who the officer communicated with during the Saturday attack are also to record their statements with the police. They include three officers— a Superintendent of Police, an Inspector and a Sergeant— and an employee of a local media house.
The GSU officer and the slain suspect have also been linked to a series of robberies in Nairobi and its environs, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti.
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One of the latest attacks was in October 11, when a Safaricom employee was car jacked at Mihang’o Mwangaza Court, robbed of Sh28,800 and raped just a few metres from Kayole Police Station.
Ndiru said during the Saturday night shooting, the GSU officer and his accomplices, armed with AK47 rifles, went to the residence of Henry Mwangi two hours before the family arrived home.
They attacked Mwangi when he got home and shot his mother-in-law, Anne Gatiti, 60, on the head, as she was opening the gate. She died on the spot.
They then shot his wife Purity Wanjiru, 35, three times also killing her on the spot.
Mwangi was shot on both the left hand and left leg. The attackers escaped with Wanjiru’s bag containing an unknown amount of cash.
At the same time, investigations took another turn after reports indicated Mwangi had differed with his wife over allegations that he had an affair with his wife’s relative. He had reportedly left his home for some days and only came back three days before the attack.
A long time friend of Mwangi’s wife, only known as Kaki, is also to record a statement. Ndiru added that they were pursuing more suspects.
Alarm has been raised over the involvement of police officers in violent crimes and other criminal activities in the last few months.
On Monday, Constable Isaiah Monda Ontita of Ngong Police Station was arrested for defiling a pupil.
Yesterday, GSU commandant Douglas Kirocho Kanja warned that any member of the paramilitary unit found engaging in crime would be dealt with individually.
“Ours is a disciplined force that does not condone what some of the isolated officers are reported to have been involved in,” he said.
