Lae student dies as crowd turns rowdy

A student died instantly after he received bullet wounds to his chest yesterday as police tried to disperse rowdy crowds in Lae.
Alphonse Bob, a senior lecturer with the Tourism and Hospitality department of the PNG National Polytechnic Institute said his 21-year-old son was following the people going towards Eriku yesterday morning when he was shot.
“My son was at home and around 7.30am he left Polytechnic gate and went outside to see what was happening and just opposite the gate outside Paraka Lodge gate, he was shot right under his right side armpit where the bullet penetrated his lungs causing his instant death,” said Bob. The deceased son was the first born in the family of three boys and two girls and should be in grade twelve at a technical secondary school (named) in Lae this year.
Bob claimed that while his son was there with the crowd, police approached them and open fired on the crowd.
“Police were supposed to give warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd but instead, they fired low which accidently hit my son on his right armpit, below his front side shoulder which penetrated his lungs causing his instant death,” Bob said.
He added that they made efforts to rush him to the Angau General Hospital.
He was confirmed dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports from police in Lae indicated that four persons were shot dead, while one was fighting for his life at Angau General Hospital following the unrest yesterday.
Meanwhile, Port Moresby General Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi has confirmed eight deaths yesterday.
He said there were 40 injuries, 37 males and three females.
Molumi said most of the injuries were from gunshots, bush knife wounds, injuries from bottle or glass and burns.
St John’s Ambulance commissioner Matt Canon said they received 117 emergency calls in 12 to 24 hours from severe burns and other injuries. They were all transferred to PMGH.
Chief Fire Officer Bill Roo said on Wednesday the service attended to more than 13 fires.