EPS agent Patrick Kollie charged with ‘murder’

The Liberia National Police forwarded the charge to court for the alleged murder of Patrick Kollie, who shot and killed an unarmed civilian on July 4.

Kollie, 27, is a community resident of the Police Academy and an employee of the Executive Protective Service (EPS), specifically assigned to the security detail of National Port Authority General Manager Bill Twehway.

Police, in a statement, said that during the preliminary investigation, it was established that while suspect Kollie was on his way to his residence at the Police Academy, “he encountered alleged assailants who attempted to attack him, thus hampering his movements”.

“The investigation further revealed that as the argument continued between the suspect and the alleged assailants, Kollie entered his parked vehicle and took his assigned arm, a Norinco 9MM pistol with serial number LR/EPS/ 409730767.”

“As a result, the investigation has established that when the alleged attackers realized suspect Kollie was in possession of a firearm, they fled and drove past an approaching motorcycle.”

The investigation, according to police, established that as the suspected criminals drove past an approaching motorcycle, suspect Kollie fired a bullet behind the assailants, striking the late Valentine Johnson over his head. left eye and came out behind his head leaving him unconscious and pronounced afterwards. death by physician on call at John F. Kennedy Medical Center.

Additionally, it was revealed that when Kollie realized that when he hit the wrong person, he immediately got into his vehicle and fled the scene.

“The suspect Kollie admitted to discharging his firearm and further stated that he was attacked by a group of criminals who wanted to take his assigned arm. He added that in the process the arm discharged, thus striking a civilian who was riding on an approaching motorcycle.”

The investigation also established that suspect Kollie’s action clearly shows that he was in clear violation of Rule 4 of the Basic Cardinal Firearms Rule which states: “Beware of your target and what which is beyond your target”.

“In light of the foregoing and the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death, coupled with the physical evidence (Norinco 9mm pistol) presented as well as eyewitness accounts, the inquest has decided to charge suspect Kollie with the crime of murder, a violation of Chapter 14, Section 14.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Liberia, and forwarded to court for prosecution.”