By Victor Fanuel
SANYATI — A police officer was fatally shot inside Sanyati Police Station early Sunday by a man believed to be linked to the recent murder of Ruwa businessman, Joseph Mutangadura.
Constable Courage Muchechesi, 32, was shot once in the stomach around 2AM while attending to a member of the public, according to an internal police memo seen by NewsHour.
The gunman reportedly stormed the charge office, armed with a pistol, demanding to know the whereabouts of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) detectives who had earlier raided his home. He also accused the officers of stealing US$1,000 during the operation.
When Muchechesi tried to flee into a nearby office, the assailant opened fire.
The officer staggered out of the building, shouting that he had been shot, before collapsing near the single quarters.
He was found dead moments later.
Investigators say the suspect had earlier exchanged gunfire with CID Homicide detectives, wounding one officer before escaping.
The injured detective is reported to be in stable condition.
In a recorded video after the attack, the suspect claimed he returned to the police station to confront the detectives but shot Muchechesi “for ignoring his order to lie down.”
Police from Kadoma and Chegutu later attended the scene, recovering a spent cartridge near the charge office door.
