Police in Lusaka have shot dead one suspect identified as Marlon Mutakasha aged 32 commonly known as Fresher.
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale said the suspect who is believed to have been behind a spate of Aggravated Robberies involving motor vehicles and attacks on Yango drivers was spotted in Lusaka’s Chunga area.
He said Police officers, acting on a tip off from a member of the public, who managed to get the registration number of the vehicle the suspect was using and the direction he took traced the vehicle and managed to challenge the occupants.
“The suspect was found with an ABSA Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card for a Mr. Siame of Chalala who was attacked on November 26, 2022 around 01:30 hours after he was booked through Yango Taxi whom they robbed and made to withdraw money at a named ATM along Alick Nkhata road,” he said.
“The same night, the suspect together with other unknown accomplices is alleged to have robbed a Mr. Shambulo of his motor vehicle and a cellular phone before withdrawing money amounting to K11,000 using the victim’s ATM card at a named ATM whilst armed with Pistols,” he further said.
Mr. Mwale then reiterated that the suspect was also wanted for the Aggravated Robbery of a Motor vehicle, Toyota Corolla VVTI registration number ABZ 1951 which was robbed at gunpoint on March 8, 2022, a property of a named government official and was also found with 20 Sim cards for MTN, AIRTEL and ZAMTEL and a drivers’ license for a Ms. Sompo.
He further explained on the way to Chazanga compound, the vehicle Officers were using developed a mechanical fault which compelled the officers to push it off the road and in the process the suspect who was handcuffed took advantage and dashed into the shrubs around Chunga cemetery trying to escape.
This prompted the Officers to fire several warning shots and unfortunately, he was hit by a stray bullet and later was pronounced dead.
Police say Investigations have since been intensified as the body is in UTH mortuary awaiting formal identification and postmortem.
