Police in Lae city continue to hunt for the accomplices of a wanted criminal who was shot and killed by police following an attempted armed robbery at a gravel site near Nadzab recently.
The man, Andrew Nelson from Koroba in Hela, had been jailed in 2020 for murder. He was supposed to serve 13 years but was let out early under strict rules to stay out of trouble, but he did not.
Police say he did not learn from his lesson. After getting out, he was involved in several robberies in other provinces and even escaped from police in Popondetta in Northern province.
Lae’s top police officer, Chief Superintendent Chris Kunyanban, said Nelson was part of a group that tried to rob a Chinese-owned gravel business early in the morning on June 13th.
“We got a tip-off and moved in fast. Nelson was armed and during the standoff, he was shot and died at the scene,” said Kunyanban.
He said it was disappointing that Nelson wasted the chance to turn from his bad ways and have a better life.
“The court gave him a break, but he chose to go back to crime. It’s dangerous for him and everyone else,” Kunyanban added.
He also warned others on parole or suspended sentences not to break the rules.
“We’re keeping an eye on you. If you do wrong again, we’ll find you,” he said.
Police are now working to find the other people who were with Nelson during the attempted robbery.