The advocacy group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has called for the immediate dismissal and prosecution of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman and officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) involved in the killing of 27-year-old Matthew Mulbah, a mentally ill man fatally shot during a police operation in Congo Town.
STAND described the incident as a “cold-blooded murder” and a reflection of Liberia’s growing culture of police brutality, extrajudicial killings, and impunity. “Matthew’s family sought help, not a corpse,” the group said, condemning what it calls a gross violation of human rights and the sanctity of life.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
According to eyewitnesses, the family of Matthew Mulbah called the LNP on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, seeking assistance for him during a mental health crisis. The first team of officers reportedly arrived peacefully in the morning, urging Matthew to accept medical treatment at a nearby facility, but he refused.
Hours later, a second team returned with a man described as a “doctor” to administer a sedative. During a confrontation, Matthew allegedly injured one officer with a knife in self-defense before locking himself in his room. Reinforcements were summoned, and the situation escalated.
Witnesses and video evidence reportedly show that police discharged multiple rounds into the home, hitting Matthew as he tried to hide in the bathroom. He was dragged outside, bleeding and calling for help. A man believed to be the same “doctor” injected him with an unknown substance while he was handcuffed and severely wounded.
Matthew was later taken to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where reports say he was abandoned in a corridor and denied treatment after police labeled him an “armed robber.”
Disputed Police Narrative
In a podcast appearance, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman characterized the episode as a “stabbing incident involving police officers,” claiming Matthew attacked three officers with a cutlass and a knife, forcing police to “neutralize a mortal threat.”
However, eyewitness accounts and available video evidence strongly contradict that version. Only one officer was wounded, and no cutlass was present at the scene. Police allegedly fired seven rounds? an excessive use of force against a man suffering a mental health crisis.
STAND says the Inspector General’s public statements and a subsequent vigil held for the officers amount to a deliberate attempt to whitewash an unlawful killing.
Rights and Ethical Breaches Identified by STAND
1. Violation of the Right to Life
Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution guarantees every citizen’s right to life and due process. STAND argues the deliberate use of lethal force against a mentally ill civilian constitutes an extrajudicial killing.
2. Violation of International Human Rights Standards
Under the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms (1990), police officers may only use firearms when strictly unavoidable to protect life. STAND insists the LNP’s actions clearly breached these global standards.
3. Failure of Professional Conduct and Duty of Care
The LNP Code of Ethics requires officers to protect life and uphold human dignity. STAND notes that the officers failed to de-escalate the situation or use non-lethal methods, instead resorting to deadly force.
4. Abuse of Office and Public Deception
STAND accuses Inspector General Coleman of deliberately misleading the public, violating transparency and accountability requirements under the Police and Immigration Act.
STAND’s Demands
The group called for immediate and concrete action, including:
Suspension of all officers involved pending an independent investigation. Forensic examination of the shooting and the substance injected into Matthew. A public apology to the victim’s family. Formation of a specialized Mental Health Response Unit within the LNP. Oversight by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) and the Civil Society Council of Liberia. Immediate dismissal of Inspector General Gregory Coleman for administrative failures, misrepresentation, and defending brutality.
“Liberians must no longer accept a system where calling the police leads to death instead of help,” the statement read.
The release was signed by Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., Chairman of STAND, who concluded with a stern warning:
“December 17 is coming – Lead or Leave. Enough is enough.”
