TWO PEOPLE have been reported dead following a shooting incident that disrupted an enstoolment ceremony of a chief at Offinso Asamankama on Thursday.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command officially said there is one death, and said another person was in critical condition after suffering gunshot wounds.
However, eye witnesses in Offinso Asamankama insisted that two people lost their lives during the shooting incident.
Whilst the police confirmed the dead person as Nana Kwame Appiagyei, 35, witnesses in the area maintained that the second deceased person was one Nana Kusi.
The police in a press release, signed by ASP Godwin Ahianyo, the Ashanti Regional Police PRO, said there was a ceremony to enstool a chief at Offinso Asamankama.
According to him, each of the four gates from the royal family presented a candidate and in the end one lucky royal was eventually given the vacant stool.
The enstoolment of the new chief, reportedly, sparked anger and so Appiagyei, rushed to his stationery vehicle, removed a pump action gun and shot Nana Kusi.
Supporters of Nana Kusi also became furious so they gave Appiagyei a wild chase until they caught up and disarmed him, before shooting him with his own gun at close range.
The Police PRO said Appiagyei died instantly so his body was sent to the morgue for preservation, adding that Nana Kusi was also in critical condition so he was hospitalised.
According to ASP Ahianyo, the angry mob after shooting Appiagyei also damaged his vehicle with stones.
However, several eye witnesses at Asamankama alleged that Nana Kusi battled for his life throughout Thursday night, but succumbed to death on Friday morning.
Meanwhile, ASP Ahianyo also said in the release that police have started investigations and they were on the heels of the people that shot and killed Appiagyei.
He also said police were yet to retrieve the pump action gun that was used in the shooting, assuring that the police would get to the bottom of the case within a short time.
The Police PRO said police have invited the queen mother of Offinso Asamankama and her elders for not seeking police permit before organising the enstoolment event.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi