Stephen James attached to Mopol 22, Lagos State police command who shot self after killing three persons will face orderly room trial even in death.The trigger happy police Sergeant shot dead two brothers and one other at Paulson Hotels Anibaba Street, Ketu after a drinking spree.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni told Daily Sun that the policeman involved would face orderly room trial after which he would be officially dismissed.
Owoseni who described the policeman’s action as embarrassing and callous said: “We would try him even in death and dismiss him for his actions. We want to use this medium to sympathise with the families of the deceased and we apologise for the irrational actions of the policeman who also took his own life.
James, on Saturday shot dead three male customers before killing himself at a hotel in the Ketu area of the State.
It was gathered that among the deceased were twin brothers identified as Taiwo and Kehinde Oyesunle and their friend, simply identified as Jeje. The twins were said to be the only children of their mother.
The tragic incident; which took place outside the premises of Paulson Hotel at about 4:20pm, threw the entire neighborhood and its environs into confusion with passers-by and residents running for safety.
According to eyewitnesses, trouble started when the police Sergeant with Force number 217884, threatened to shoot customers if they failed to buy him an alcoholic drink.
The policeman, who was said to be a chronic smoker of Indian hemp, however, felt offended after the victims, Taiwo, Kehinde and Jeje cautioned him.
The eyewitnesses said the policeman ambushed and killed the three young men, who were in their early 30s, as they stepped outside the hotel premises where they had gone to celebrate Jeje’s birthday.
It was gathered that when he realised the gravity of his action, James shot himself in the chest.
An angry mob, which later gathered at the scene of the tragedy, attempted to burn down the hotel and destroy properties within its premises.
Irate mob threw bottles and stones at the hotel as lodgers ran out of their rooms with their luggage and fled the scene.
The hotel was said to be completely deserted by staff and guests few hours after the incident.
The youths also wanted to burn the body of the policeman, but policemen, who later got to the scene, calmed them down.
Policemen led by the Divisional Police Officer of the Ketu Police Station arrived at the scene at about 5.30 pm to carry the body away.
Lagos State police spokesman, Mr. Joe Offor told Daily Sun that the killer policeman’s Berret, Shoes etc. would be tried in a police orderly room arrangement where sentence would be passed.
