Teenage corn-seller shot by Liberia police dies

 bbc

Jonathan Paye-Layleh

BBC Africa, Monrovia

Police in Liberia have confirmed that a 17-year-old teenager shot when officers opened fire to disperse protesters on Monday has died of a bullet wound to the head.

Abraham Tomey was sitting by the roadside roasting corn to sell when a police bullet struck him as he apparently attempted to run away from the confrontation between police and protesters in Kingsville, about 20km (12 miles) south-east of the capital, Monrovia.

Police spokesman Moses Carter told the BBC that the officers involved in the shooting would be investigated “because under the law, they have to shoot only when their lives are under threat".

He earlier told a local radio station that Tomey had died in a hospital about 10km from the site of the shooting.

Police were dispersing a crowd protesting against the suspected ritual killing of two children, aged 10 and 14, in Kingsville.

Killings for ritual purposes are common in Liberia. Some body parts are believed to be useful in preparing charms for gaining political power and luck.