RUNDU – The Namibian Police at Rundu have refused to divulge details on the circumstances of a fatal shooting on Friday evening. A man, suspected to have been dealing in pangolin skins, was shot during a police sting operation.

The victim was identified as 34-year-old Joseph Kautjingu. He was allegedly shot in the head and chest, and was rushed to the hospital by the police, where he later died from gunshot wounds.

The late Kautjingu was shot while running away from the police; he was with another person, but they ran their separate ways when the police vehicle suddenly appeared.

“I will just give you a brief of what happened since we don’t want to jeopardise investigations: there was a police undercover operation. It’s unfortunate that the suspect lost his life; however, the family have been informed of his death,” said the Kavango East region’s acting police commander, deputy commissioner Eino Nambahu, who confirmed the incident. Nambahu, when asked whether the victim was armed or not, said “it will be determined through investigations whether he was armed or not”.

The victim’s family members are questioning the police’s actions, and they also asked if they (police) found what they were looking for in his possession.

– jmuyamba@nepc.com.na