The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) unequivocally condemns the fatal shooting of Matthew Mulbah, a young Liberian man living with mental illness, by officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) in Congo Town.
What began as a family’s plea for medical assistance ended in tragedy—underscoring a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings, excessive force, and systemic abuse within the LNP.
STAND demands the immediate dismissal and criminal prosecution of Inspector General Gregory Coleman and all officers directly involved. Justice, accountability, and respect for human rights must not be delayed.
Incident Overview:
On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the LNP responded to a family request for assistance during a mental health crisis involving Matthew Mulbah. According to eyewitness accounts:
The initial police team arrived in the morning, forcibly entered Matthew’s room, and attempted to persuade him to seek treatment at a mental health facility on Duport Road. Matthew declined, and the officers departed without incident.
Later that afternoon, a second team returned with an individual described as a “medical doctor,” intending to administer a sedative. During a physical altercation, Matthew reportedly injured one officer with a knife before retreating and locking himself inside.
Reinforcements were summoned. Upon arrival, officers again breached the premises. Eyewitnesses and video footage confirm that multiple rounds were fired as Matthew sought refuge in a bathroom.
He was subsequently dragged outside, visibly wounded and pleading for help. While handcuffed and bleeding, he was injected with an unknown substance—believed to be a sedative—by the same individual claiming to be a doctor.
Matthew was transported to John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where he was allegedly abandoned in a corridor and denied medical care after police labeled him an “armed robber.”
Discrepancies in the Official Account: 
In a late-night podcast, Inspector General Gregory Coleman described the incident as “a stabbing involving police officers,” claiming that three officers were attacked with a cutlass and concealed knife. He asserted that the response was consistent with the LNP’s “use-of-force continuum” to neutralize a “mortal threat.”
However, eyewitness testimony and video evidence contradict these claims:
Only one officer sustained injuries. No cutlass was present. Matthew posed no threat to the public once restrained.
At least seven rounds were discharged—an excessive and unjustifiable use of lethal force against an unarmed individual in mental distress.
The Inspector General’s public statements and subsequent candlelight vigil honoring the officers involved appear to be a deliberate attempt to obscure the facts and sanitize an unlawful killing.
Legal and Ethical Breaches: Violation of the Right to Life Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution guarantees the right to life and due process. The use of lethal force against a mentally ill individual who posed no imminent threat constitutes an extrajudicial killing.
Breach of International Protocols: The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990) stipulate that firearms may only be used when strictly necessary to protect life. The LNP’s actions grossly violated these standards.
Neglect of Duty of Care: The LNP Code of Ethics mandates the protection of life and dignity. Officers failed to de-escalate the situation, disregarded medical protocols, and opted for lethal force over nonviolent intervention.
Public Misrepresentation and Abuse of Office: The Inspector General’s misleading narrative undermines public trust and violates Part IV, Section 7 of the Police and Immigration Act, which requires transparency and accountability in law enforcement communications.
STAND’s Position and Demands: STAND views the killing of Matthew Mulbah as a grave abuse of power and a damning reflection of Liberia’s policing culture. No family should seek help and receive a body in return.
STAND calls for:
Immediate suspension of all officers involved, pending an independent investigation.
A forensic audit of all discharged firearms and the substance administered to Matthew.
A formal public apology from Inspector General Coleman to the Mulbah family.
Creation of a specialized Mental Health Response Unit within the LNP, trained in crisis intervention and non-lethal tactics.
Oversight by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) and the Civil Society Council of Liberia to ensure transparency and justice.
Immediate dismissal of Inspector General Gregory Coleman for administrative negligence, defense of police brutality, and protection of alleged sexual offenders.
