Catholic priest mistakenly shoots teenage boy to death over knockouts during new year cross over in Imo

A Catholic Reverend’s Father has allegedly shot a boy dead after the latter set off knockouts within the church premises.

The incident occurred during the New Year Mass held on January 1, 2025, in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.

Witnesses claim the teenager was celebrating the New Year with fireworks outside the church premises when the clergyman confronted him. The altercation escalated, leading to the alleged shooting.

In a Facebook post shared via the handle, ‘For The Love Of Anambra,’ on Wednesday, it quoted eyewitness accounts, reporting that after the deceased set off the knockouts, “the priest, whose identity remains undisclosed, picked up a firearm and fatally shot him.

“The incident has left the community in shock and mourning, with residents expressing outrage and demanding a thorough investigation to uncover the facts behind the unfortunate event.”

The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with residents calling for a thorough investigation into the matter. Authorities have yet to confirm the details or provide an official statement regarding the incident.

Confirming the incident, the Imo police spokesman, Henry Okoye, told The Nation on Thursday: “The priest has been arrested, and the body of the boy has been recovered and deposited at Atta Ikeduru Mortuary.”

Okoye added that a detailed investigation has been initiated to ascertain the remote facts surrounding the incident.

“The police investigation is expected to shed more light on the events leading up to the incident,” he said.