A National Police Reservist (NPR) 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 gunshot wound to the lower abdomen.
The bullet reportedly entered through the left lower abdomen and exited through the right buttock.
According to police, Kioko had earlier engaged the NPR officer in an argument that escalated after he allegedly slapped the officer and pulled out a penknife, threatening to stab him.
The officer reportedly walked to his house, about 70 metres from the market, where he picked up a G3 rifle issued to him for official duties.
He then allegedly returned to the market and shot Kioko before fleeing towards Ngomeni Township.
Police later arrested the officer after receiving a tip-off. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly carrying the G3 rifle fitted 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.
Kioko’s body was moved to the Kyuso Sub-County Level Four Hospital mortuary pending an autopsy.
Police said the incident was being investigated as murder as detectives continued to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
