Kumasi, July 30, GNA - The Police in Kumasi on Friday shot dead Daniel Osei, a 22-year-old suspected armed robber, who was part of a car stealing syndicate at Bremang near Kumasi, in a gun battle. Two other suspects, Kwame Attah, 23, and Rasta-haired Richard Adom, alias Abortion, who were also armed, received gun shots in the head and the left leg respectively.

They have been kept in police custody after receiving medical treatment at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The fourth suspect robber, Yaw Mike, believed to be injured, managed t= o escape arrest. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Timbila, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, confirmed the story to journalists in Kumasi on Friday.

He said that but for a tracking device on the Nissan taxi cab, which the gang snatched from the owner at Kasoa in the Central Region at about 0430 hours, members of the gang would have gone with the vehicle. DCOP Timbila said when the police in Kumasi received information from their colleagues in Accra that the suspects were in a taxi and were at Obuasi heading towards Kumasi, the Police Buffalo Unit was put on the alert= .. He said the tracking device helped the police to detect that the robber= s had reached Kumasi and were at Sumae Magazine heading towards Offinso. DCOP Timbila said the robbers started firing at the police when they encountered them (police) at about 2300 hours on the road. He said the police fired back and the taxi in which the robbers travelling veered of the road and went into a ditch.

DCOP Timbila said when the police searched the car, they found a locally manufactured shot gun with four empty shells, one live cartridge, a sharp kitchen knife, 93magic" oil, an identity and visa cards and one la= rge colloid tape, a dog chain and looking glasses. He said the body of the deceased has been deposited at KATH mortuary fo= r autopsy.