Monrovia, Liberia –The civil society advocacy group, Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), is calling for the immediate dismissal and prosecution of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman and the officers involved in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Matthew Mulbah, a mentally ill man killed by Liberia National Police (LNP) officers in Congo Town last week.
In a strongly worded statement released Sunday, October 12, 2025, STAND condemned what it described as an “extrajudicial killing” and a “gross abuse of power,” demanding urgent accountability, independent investigation, and systemic reform of law enforcement protocols in mental health crises.
According to eyewitness accounts and video footage cited by STAND, Mulbah was experiencing a mental health episode on Wednesday, October 8, when his family called police for assistance. The first team of officers who arrived reportedly attempted to convince him to seek treatment and left peacefully when he declined.
Later that day, a second group of officers returned with a man described as a medical doctor. A confrontation ensued when an officer tried to restrain Mulbah. The young man reportedly injured the officer with a knife and retreated inside. Police reinforcements later stormed the home, fired multiple rounds, and struck Mulbah as he hid in a bathroom.
Witnesses claim that after being wounded, Mulbah was dragged outside, handcuffed, and injected with a sedative by the same individual claiming to be a doctor. He was then transported to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center but was allegedly left unattended in a hallway, where he later died.
Inspector General Coleman, speaking in a podcast following the incident, characterized the encounter as a “stabbing incident” involving three injured officers, alleging that Mulbah attacked police with a cutlass and a concealed knife. Coleman defended the officers’ actions as falling within the LNP’s use-of-force policy.
However, STAND disputes this narrative, citing eyewitness reports and video evidence indicating only one officer sustained injuries and that Mulbah was not in possession of a cutlass. The group also accused the LNP of excessive force, noting that at least seven rounds were fired in a confined space against an unarmed, mentally ill civilian.
“The Inspector General’s comments and the subsequent glorification of officers through a candlelight vigil amount to a cover-up and a deliberate distortion of the truth,” the STAND statement read.
STAND outlined several alleged violations by the LNP:
Violation of Right to Life (Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution), arguing the killing was unlawful.
Breach of international law, citing the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force, which limit firearm use to situations where lives are at immediate risk.
Failure of duty of care, highlighting the LNP’s lack of crisis de-escalation measures and medical protocols.
Public deception and abuse of office, pointing to Coleman’s statements as misleading and damaging to public trust.
The organization is demanding:
1. Immediate suspension of all involved officers pending independent investigation.
2. Forensic review of firearm use and the sedative injection.
3. A formal apology from the Inspector General to the Mulbah family.
4. Creation of a trained Mental Health Crisis Response Unit within the LNP.
5. Oversight by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights and Civil Society Council.
6. Immediate removal of Inspector General Coleman, citing broader failures in leadership and ongoing allegations of misconduct.
“No family should call for help and receive a corpse in return,” said STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr. “This was not just a tragedy—it was a crime.”
The statement concludes with a stark warning to national leadership: “December 17 is coming—Lead or Leave. Enough is Enough.”
As public outrage grows, civil society groups and human rights organizations are expected to weigh in further, setting the stage for a potentially explosive debate over policing, mental health, and accountability in Liberia.
