PHOTO: Young Jovanus (in the middle with jacket and face covered) with his mother immediately behind him
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- A 10th grade male student of the Cyber-Ed Christian School of Excellence situated in Congo town identified as Jovanus O. Turay, age 16,who shot and killed a female student of the same institution on April 14,2021, has been sent to court for trial, and his mother is also facing charges.
Jovanus was on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 charged with Negligent Homicide, while his mother was charged with recklessly endangering another person and possession and sale of objects for lethal used.
According to Police charge sheet, Negligent Homicide is in violation of Chapter 14, section 14.3, Chapter 14, section 14.23 and Chapter 17 section 17.11 of the new panel code of the Republic of Liberia.
The police charge sheet narrated that defendant Turay was arrested and acquainted with his constitution rights, investigated and subsequently charged the crime of Negligent Homicide for Recklessly and negligently collecting (Taurus G2C 9MM Pistol) from his biological mother defendant Josia M. Saah bed room located SKD Boulevard situated in Paynesville and secretly put said firearm into his book bag and took it along with him on his school campus where he discharged said firearm.
Police charge sheet further narrated that on Thursday April 13th, 2021, victim Precious Ireland age, 14 a resident of GSA road and a 9th grade student of the Cyber-Ed Christian School of Excellence located Sophie community Congo town was discovered unconscious in one of the class number (107) after sustaining gunshot wound she was immediately rush at SOS hospital in Congo town where she was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on call.
Jovanus took hidden gun from his mother’s home
Police in-depth Investigation revealed that defendant Josia M. Saah is the mother of defendant Jovanus O. Turay who secretly encountered a 9mm pistol (Taurus G2C) with rounds from his mother’s bed room few months back k and on April 13, 2021, and took same on his school campus but accordingly, the firearm mentioned herein was taken from a box that was under his mother defendant Josia M. Saah’s bed.
Investigation further established that on the above date at 7:25 am while students of Cyber-Ed Christian School of Excellence were having their breakfast defendant Jovanus O. Turay asked one of his school mates to be identified about Matthew P. Gonkerwon Jr. and he was informed that Matthew Gonkerwon was in the French class room number 107 where he went and met victim Precious Ireland and Matthew P. Gonkerwon.
Upon the defendant Jovanus O. Turay arrival into the French class where he met victim Precious Ireland and Matthew P. Gonkerwon and greeted them and took his seat but few minutes later, he took out the fire arm Taurus G2C 9mm pistol from his book bag and began to play with it after which he gave it to Matthew P. Gonkerwon who played with it and later passed it to victim Precious Ireland who also played with it and returned it to defendant Jovanus O. Turay who collected the firearm and placed it on his right side while victim Precious Ireland and Matthew P. Gonkerwon were listening to music from Matthew iPad while, both Precious Ireland and Matthew P. Gonkerwon were using one ear piece with one side in precious’s ear and the other side in Matthew’s ear..
While, the firearm was defendant Turay side victim Precious cautioned he defendant Turay to remove the firearm from his right side so that it will not hurt or damaged the defendant because it is a real gun.
He was advised but didn’t listen
Turay didn’t listen to the victim advise but later removed the firearm from his right side and immediately removed the magazine and few minutes later place the magazine back and defendant was still playing with the firearm while, the victim and Matthew were still listening to their music when the firearm discharged and drop from defendant hand on the floor and blood began oozing from the victim neck and shoulder.
Investigation also revealed that defendant Turay immediately collected the firearm from the floor and place it into his bag and took his jacket and placed it around the victim neck while Matthew P. Gonkerwon ran out of the class for fear of his life.
It was also established that due to the heavy sound in the school building the teachers, securities, students and Administrator began concern as to what has made such sound but few minutes later while the instructors were still searching toward the sound direction Mr. Tony Taylor identified classroom #107 where he went and victim Precious Ireland slightly bend unconscious with blood oozing from her neck and right shoulder and he immediately took the victim down stairs into a car along with other instructors took the victim to the SOS hospital in Congo town where he was pronounced Dead on Arrival by doctor on call.
After allegedly firing the victim, he immediately told one of his school mates to be identified to collect his book bag that contain the firearm from the scene but the bag was later discovered in the adjacent classroom #108 after a vigorous search by the school security guards and the police was immediately contacted to take seizure of the matter and they responded on the crime scene.
Findings from the Investigation also revealed that after the defendant Turay discharge the firearm, two lives bullets enter the victim one existed and the other did not after which he places the firearm back into his bag to conceal it from his instructors.
Gun was not registered
It said that his mother Josia M. Saah has no legal authority to have such a firearm into her bed room.
That the defendant was cautioned by the victim to do away with the firearm because it look like real gun but he didn’t listen and refused among others.
Meanwhile, mother of defendant Turay was charged with Recklessly endangering Another person and possession and sale of objects for lethal used in violation of Chapter 14 section 14.23, and Chapter 17 section 17:11 of the revised panel code of the Republic of Liberia and they are expected to either be reminded at the Monrovia Central prison or release on bail because the crimes charged are bailable offenses.