Police killed mentally ill man

By Stephen G. Fellajuah

 An officer of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has reportedly shot and killed a suspected mentally ill man, identified as Matthew Mulbah, after the deceased allegedly stabbed three officers during a violent altercation near the old LACC building in Congo Town.

 According to Police Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman, the incident occurred on Wednesday, October 8, at 2:58 p.m., following a distressed call, indicating that an officer had been stabbed multiple times.

 When officers arrived on the scene, they ordered the suspect to surrender. However, he allegedly ignored their commands and charged at them with a cutlass, wounding a second officer in the arm, as he tried to protect his head.

 A third officer managed to disarm the suspect by seizing the cutlass. But the suspect then reportedly pulled a concealed knife from his trousers, stabbed the officer in the thigh, and attempted to strike again toward his abdomen.

 Faced with what police described as “immediate mortal danger,” one of the responding officers opened fire, killing the suspect on the spot to prevent further harm.

 All three injured officers, along with the suspect, were taken to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. One officer remains in critical condition following emergency surgery. Mulbah was pronounced dead after treatment.

 Inspector General Coleman extended condolences to the suspect’s family and assured the public that the LNP had launched a full investigation into the shooting. He also called for calm and prayers for the wounded officers.

 The man killed in the incident was later identified as Matthew Mulbah.

 Former Education Minister George Kronnisanyon Werner, a close friend of the deceased, shared a moving tribute, shedding light on Mulbah’s recent struggles with what is believed to have been a mental health crisis.

 “Matthew was my friend, a close friend. We lived in the same neighborhood, and I rarely took a walk without him. Whenever my car or generator gave me trouble, he was the first person I called”, the ex-minister wrote.

 About a week ago, a mutual friend called to tell me that Matthew had fallen ill and that his behavior had become strange, almost violent, he said. Mr. Werner added that the late Matthew was said to be suffering from malaria, possibly cerebral malaria.

 “Concerned, I reached out to several people to check on him. It was confirmed that he was mentally unstable. This morning, a few friends pooled resources to help take him to the hospital. But when they arrived, he became agitated and violent, injuring some of them in the process. They had no choice but to call the police”, said Werner.

 The police response was not handled with necessary professionalism. In trying to disarm him, to take the knife from him,  one or more officers were reportedly stabbed. In the chaos, they shot him in the stomach. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Sources say Matthew was a gentle giant.

 The death of Matthew Mulbah has prompted strong emotional reactions from the public and has reignited conversations around the use of lethal force by police in Liberia, the handling of mental health crises, and the need for professional and compassionate policing strategies.

 While a formal investigation is ongoing, many are questioning whether this tragedy could have been prevented, and what reforms are needed to ensure such incidents do not continue.

 The case of Matthew Mulbah serves as a stark reminder of the fragile intersection between mental health and public safety, and the price that can be paid when systems fail. Editing by Jonathan Browne