Denis Ringa, 14 year old boy who was shot dead by police in Mombasa on Thursday 1st
A family in Mombasa is demanding justice after a police officer shot a 14 year old boy dead during New Year celebrations in the Utange area of Bamburi, Mombasa County.
Denis Ringa, a student in Grade Six at Utange Primary School in Kisauni Sub county, was the victim. He was shot shortly after midnight on January 1 in an encounter with the police officers, which both witnesses and the family describe as unprovoked. The police officers are believed to be attached to Bamburi Police Station.
According to residents, Denis was with five other children in a residential neighborhood when fireworks were being lit to welcome the New Year.
Witnesses say the two police officers came to the scene on a motorcycle, one was in police uniform and the other was in civvies. When the children saw the officers, they ran off in different directions.
Denis was allegedly shot from behind as he was trying to run away. The witnesses also say that the officers left the scene immediately after the shooting, abandoning the injured boy on the ground.
Denis died of the gunshot wounds, the community of Utange was left in deep grief following the tragic incident that abruptly ended the joyous celebration.