A 23-year-old man was fatally shot in the thigh during a scuffle with two police officers in mufti who attempted to buy a laptop at a low-cost price.
Prosper Apasu, a native of Ho in the Volta region, was killed when one of the officers, said to be the bodyguard of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s Chief Executive Samuel Sarpong, fired at him.
He died while being taken to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital from the Buokrom-Duase area, where the incident took place on Wednesday around 8:30pm.
ASP Yusif Mohammed Tanko, the Public Relations Officer of the Ashanti Regional Police Command, confirmed the sad incident.
It would be recalled that a similar incident took place at Aburaso, a Kumasi suburb, which resulted in the death of Kwabena Nyamekye Antoh, a shoe seller.
The victim was beaten to death by uniform officers, who claimed he was obstructing lawful arrest of his niece.
In the latest incident, the police PRO told DAILY GUIDE that the deceased approached the officers with the ‘dangerous weapon’.
But the victim’s family denied the allegations, insisting the officers were trigger-happy.
Cousin of the victim, Stephen Azah said the police, who killed his brother, were trying to cover up the crime.
However, Mr. Tanko said Prosper Apasu, a mason, had threatened the law enforcement officers with a knife.
He added that the young man died as a result of his wounds.
ASP Tanko explained that the deceased was looking for an individual to buy the laptop at the price of GH¢300.
He narrated that the two police officers, who were privy to the information, feigned interest to buy the laptop after suspecting it to be a stolen item.
They therefore decided to cause the arrest of Apasu, but the friends of the deceased person prevented them resulting in a scuffle.
The police spokesperson said the victim pulled out a knife, which compelled the officers to shoot the deceased.
ASP Tanko said the Regional CID would handle the case.
