By Alex Yomah
Liberian Journalists providing media coverage for the President’s Citizens Engagement Tour in Nimba County, precisely Tappita woke up early Friday morning to the sad news indicating that an officer of the Executive Protection Service (EPS), Melvin Earley shot himself to death.
The sudden death of the EPS officer who reportedly slept on guard in providing maximum protection for the presidency created terror among EPS officers.
The fear among the President’s security officers prompted some friends of the deceased to give different accounts despite official statement from the EPS Executive.
Prior to the death news of the EPS officer, it was reported that the deceased complained of not receiving his share of the DSA of which all his colleagues received despite being included on the team in Ganta to Tappita before his demise even though, it was also indicated that Melvin Earley did not receive because he was not enlisted.
Separate sources who asked for anonymity indicated that Mr. Earley had earlier asked his boss to see “Rescue Mother” name given Amb. Finda Bundoo, Chief of Protocol to the President Weah.
Even though reason for seeing Rescue Mother was not disclosed but report said that he had anticipated to tell Rescue Mother that he did not receive his share of the DSA, but he was denied while on guard in Tappita, Nimba County.
“We have to be fair to ourselves. Today is Melvin; tomorrow could be us. If Melvin was not enlisted as my other friends are saying, then why was he allowed to provide guard for the President in Gompa and here in Tappita?” another source impugned some of his colleagues during an interaction with our reporter.
Other sources hinted that Mr. Earley had mental problem which may have led him to kill himself with his own gun.
According to multiple sources, the officer’s death reportedly emanated from his home where it was also alleged that he was heard on his phone while on guard communicating with his wife stating “Don’t do that to me” with a stammering voice like someone cheating on him.
One of the deceased’s friends confided that his colleague was killed “Because he was considered “high risk” and high risk in security is term as someone who cannot be controlled or someone who poses threat to others. And the action was taken because “Officer Earley served his guard around the President’s proximity which is about 300 yards away from the incident scene,” the source said.
According to another source, Mr. Earley was disarmed by the order of his commander but forgot to also remove his pistol in the process, while the actual reason that led to the deceased being ordered disarmed is yet to be established.
Explaining how his colleague was killed, our source also confided further that after the would-be Commander realized that the deceased was still in possession of his pistol, he reportedly ordered officers to disarm him which the deceased resisted.
In the process, the deceased reportedly moved away from the scene and three gunshots were heard in front of Jackson F. Doe referral Hospital which might have led to his untimely death.
Whether or not, the officer killed himself or he was killed because he was a high risk as indicated by sources, is yet to be established.
Our reporter who visited the scene after the lifeless body of the EPS officer was taken to a morgue, an unidentified lady who sells GB opposite the Jackson F. Doe Hospital where a tussle ensued between the deceased and the EPS officers were seen thanking God for narrowly escaping death.
She explained that during the tussle there was a bullet that passed an inch away from where she was serving her food in her shop.
Meanwhile, the EPS authority has issued a preliminary statement to the effect which states: “according to Preliminary report the long serving EPS agent reportedly shot himself at about 6:03 a.m. on Friday, February 19, 2021 in Tappita, Nimba County while on duty when the incident occurred. The EPS has launched full scale investigation to really establish any potential reason for the incident. Agent Earley has been with EPS since the restructuring of the service after the Liberian civil conflict. Meanwhile, the hierarchy of the EPS extends heartfelt condolences to his family,” the EPS release indicated.