Suspected member of gang shot dead in Lae

By JUNIOR UKAHA
AN alleged member of a gang was shot dead by police following an armed holdup on Monday afternoon at a settlement in Lae.
Police claimed the deceased was among five men who allegedly held up a family at Peter Block in Kamkumung at around 5pm and robbed them.
Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr said they held up the family at gunpoint and assaulted the father before removing personal belongings from the mother and children.
Wagambie said the personal details of the deceased and the family would not be released to the public because they had lived close to each other and that could create more problems.
“Someone made a call to the Lae police emergency toll free number reporting the incident, giving the location and description of the five men,” Wagambie said. Out of the group, one of the men was in possession of a home-made stapler gun and had used it to threaten the family to shoot them.
“The informant, who had called, gave the accurate description of the armed offender, what clothes he was wearing. The operator then despatched a sector response unit (SRU) which was close by to attend to the incident,” he said.
Wagambie said SRU members left their vehicle and went on foot to the location of the incident.
“The suspects were caught by surprise when SRU members approached them,” he said.
“The armed man attempted to retaliate but was shot by police.”