BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – Armed robbers have shot dead a resident of Lloydsville Township in Grand Bassa’s first district.

The incident occurred Thursday morning at approximately 2:00 a.m. and the victim, Junior Lloyd, was killed while attempting to rescue one of his neighbors, Moses Joe, Jr., who had been attacked by the criminals.

Joe, who is a local businessman that retails gasoline and charges phone, spoke to The Bush Chicken via phone from the scene of the incident, where he detailed the accounts of the attack. He said he had closed his shop by 2:00 a.m. and had gone to attend a nearby wake to visit family before heading home.

While on his way home, Joe said he noticed two persons sitting in front of his house. As he proceeded to ask them what they were doing, he said the men started approaching him.

Soon, they surrounded him, and one pointed a gun at the back of his head, Joe said. Joe said he instinctively slapped the gun and dashed away.

As he escaped, the armed robbers fired several shots, although none hit him.

“I started shouting for people to come to my rescue,” he added. “At the time he was shooting at me, his friends were busting [through] my door to enter. Within that moment, one of my neighbors heard me shouting, so he decided to come and rescue me.”

That neighbor was the eventual victim, Junior Lloyd.

“When they saw him coming, that is how they shot him and kill him,” Joe recounted. “The body is right in front of my house now. After it happened, we found [a] car and put him on board, but while they were going, he died. So, they brought him back.”

In addition to taking a life, Joe said the robbers stole close to L$500,000 (US$3,227) from him in cash, plus 56 phones.

Since the robbery occurred, police have made no arrests. However, they have intensified patrol in search of the armed robbers.

Sackor Freeman, the Grand Bassa police commander, said officers had been deployed at major gates in Grand Bassa to attempt to arrest those involved.

Residents of Grand Bassa’s first district have long complained that their district is under siege by armed robbers.

Several months ago, armed robbers stole L$500,000 plus over US$1,000 from two businessmen in the same Lloydsville Township.

Featured photo courtesy of Lisa Larson