Fresh details have emerged about the dramatic arrest of a 47-year-old suspect in the fatal shooting of a 24-year-old youth in Siripala Mawatha in Mount Lavinia yesterday.
The suspect, identified as a 47-year-old resident of Polgasowita, was apprehended soon after attempting to flee on a motorcycle following the shooting.
According to the state newspaper Dinamina, after the shooting, the suspect’s escape route was blocked when he encountered traffic congestion on a narrow by-road and had also cut a three-wheeler that was carrying Police officers in civil attire.
The motorcyclist and shooter had then verbally abused the passengers of the three-wheeler, not knowing they were Police officers, which resulted in the officers chasing them down.
The altercation is reported to have occurred near the residence of a senior government official, where a Police intelligence officer who was in civil attire had witnessed the scene.
He had thereafter chased down the motorcycle and cornered them into a wall when the shooter had brandished his weapon at the officer, but the firearm had malfunctioned.
The Police officers in the three-wheeler had also reached the scene at the time when a scuffle had broken out to arrest the shooter, during which the motorcyclist had managed to escape, while the shooter was arrested.
At the time, it was found that the firearm in the possession of the suspect had been used in the shooting in the Mount Lavinia area earlier that day.
Investigations indicate the attack was part of a gang-related drug conflict allegedly orchestrated by associates of a notorious underworld figure known as “Asanka.”
The arrested suspect, who has a history of criminal activity including drug trafficking and homicide allegations, is being questioned by the Mount Lavinia District Crimes Investigation Division. (Newswire)