Police assigned in River Gee has arrested a 15-year-old boy and detained him for stabbing a 19-year-old man.
The fracas followed a violent altercation over access to a neighborhood hand pump in the Jimmyville Community of Fish Town, River Gee County, political capital.
The incident, which occurred early Wednesday, June 18, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting growing concerns about youth violence and resource-related tensions.
According to eyewitnesses, the confrontation began as a verbal dispute between the victim, Peter Namah, 19, and Prince Cummings, 15, a student at Fish Town Demonstration School, while waiting in a queue to fetch water at the communal pump.
The argument reportedly escalated when Namah allegedly struck Cummings with a stick.
In retaliation, Cummings is said to have drawn a silver kitchen knife and stabbed Namah in the back.
Namah was meanwhile, rushed to the Fish Town Referral Hospital for emergency treatment, but was later transferred to the J.J. Dossen Referral Hospital in Harper, Maryland County, due to the severity of his injuries.
He remains in critical condition and is currently on oxygen support, according to medical staff.
Police arrested Cummings shortly after the incident. He is being held at the Fish Town Police Depot, while investigations continue.
The violent episode has sparked community outrage, with residents expressing alarm over the growing trend of conflict among young people, particularly over access to basic necessities, including water.
“This is more than just a fight over water; it speaks to the deeper issues affecting our youth; lack of conflict resolution skills, stress and limited access to essential resources,” said one community elder, who called for immediate intervention from local authorities and youth support organizations.
Local leaders and civil society actors have called on the government to not only ensure a thorough investigation, but also to address the underlying social and infrastructural challenges contributing to such violence.
Story source: LINA