Suspects Leon Troyay, Matthew Peters, and Emmanuel Cassell have been arrested for their involvement in incidents at Iron Bridge Community in Mount Barclay, where lives were lost and properties were damaged during the process.
The three men were charged with murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, robbery, and criminal mischief.
According to the police charge sheet, the investigation revealed that those offenses are in violations of Chapters 14, 10, 15, Section 14.1 of the revised penal law of the Republic.
The investigation revealed that during the Crime Service Division (CSD) investigation, conducted into the circumstances surrounding the incidents in which Alex Tuah lost his life, on Friday, June 30, 2023, while Cyrus Youngquoi, owner of a construction project located at rock crusher, lower Margibi County, was leaving his project site on his vehicle, he was intercepted by a group who assaulted him and partly damaged one of his car doors and allegedly robbed him of a cash amount of US$4, 000, an iPhone-13 Pro Max valued at US$1,500, plus a gold chain valued at US$750, on claims that he allegedly drove recklessly through their town (Zarzon, iron Bridge Community).
Investigation revealed that Cyrus Youngquoi, after he was assaulted and robbed, went to the Mount Barclay Police Station and reported the case and he was accompanied by a team of police officers to invite the alleged perpetrators at the station, but they were not found.
“However, the police met the General Town Chief, Mambau Wee, and his Chief Elder and administrator, Dominic Manneh, who appealed that the town was bereaved, having lost one of their citizens whose burial process was on their hands, therefore since the perpetrators of the crimes couldn’t be found, they asked the police to return on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at which time they might have located the alleged perpetrators, and the request was accepted,” the investigation said.
The investigation also disclosed that on the following day, Saturday, July 1, 2023, Cyrus Youngquoi went to his project site along with others, including two Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) personnel who had asked to see his project site.
“While Cyrus and his company were leaving the project site, along with his construction workers who were returning for the week-end-break, he and his associates were attacked when they got to Zarzon Town, Iron Bridge community, by a group of individuals who came running towards his car when the driver had slowed down to cross a speed breaker, stating “that was the car yesterday”.
The investigation continued that the group stoned the car and prevented its movement by quickly setting blockades on the road, while the driver and his company were beaten in the process, and the car’s front windshield was damaged as a result of stone throwing by the group.
“Several of those aboard the vehicle, including the driver, were beaten and wounded with sticks, cutlasses, and other harmful objects by the group, while their belongings, to include cash and mobile phones, were taken from them. Alex Tuah, one of those injured, died as a result of gash wounds sustained on his head. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the JFK hospital, hours later,” the investigation stated.
The investigation also revealed that after the incidents at Zarzon Town, the community dwellers fled into hiding at unknown locations, but some were arrested based on a tip-off.
The aforementioned three were arrested and forwarded to the Central Police headquarters for investigation, and were held culpable for the role each of them played, with regards to the Iron Bridge Community incidents.
The investigation emphasized that suspect, Leon Troyay, was seen with an injury on his nose that he acquired from the altercation, Matthew Peters was arrested at a tea shop at Mount Barclay where he called upon individuals, believed to be part-takers of the incident, via phone communication, and telling them to remain in their hide-out, stating that he was already on his way out of town because the police were after them.
“The statement was intercepted by a witness that secretly called the police and he was arrested. Emmanuel Cassell transported key actors of the community incidents, to include Dominic Manneh and others, into hiding at Harbel, Margibi County on July 3, 2023, after committing the crimes,” the investigation disclosed.
The investigation also mentioned other names that were allegedly involved with or connected to the incidents, but have escaped into hiding; they include the Town Chief, Jerry Troyah, Opa Troyah, Prince Doe, alias “Coco-Dolo”, Dominic Manneh, Orange, Esau, Kojo, Johnny and others yet to be identified.
