GEORGE NKENCHO, the black man who was shot and killed by armed outside his home in Dublin last month, was struck by six bullets not five as previously thought.
Nkencho was shot and killed following a stand-off with officers in Clonee on December 30.
According to a report published in the Irish Mirror, a post-mortem determined the 27-year-old cause of death was two fatal gunshot wounds to vital organs. According to sources close to the Nkencho family, it also confirmed that he was shot six times rather than five.
The report states that a Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) passed the post-mortem results on to the family in an email, explaining that five bullets penetrated Nkencho’s torso while another passed through his arm.
The GSOC email reportedly said that “injuries noted at the post-mortem examination were that it appears that six shots were aimed at the central mass (torso) and of those shots, one went through George’s arm and did not go into his chest”.
The email continues: “The interim cause of death was two fatal gunshots, which caused damage to vital organs”.
A criminal investigation into Nkencho’s death is already underway.
Nkencho was shot dead following an incident in which he allegedly assaulted a supermarket worker in nearby Hartstown and another incident inside a post office in which he brandished a knife.
Local uniformed gardaí were called to the scene and followed Nkencho, who was allegedly still carrying a knife, back to his home on Manofields Drive.
The Garda Armed Support Unit was called in and attempted to restrain the suspect using pepper spray and Tasers.
Gardaí say Nkencho was fatally wounded after he moved towards officers with the knife.
A Garda statement said: “Gardaí followed the male on foot and in vehicles from the Hartstown Shopping Centre towards Manorfields Drive.
“During this period, gardaí were engaging with the male and encouraging him to drop the weapon.”
Nkencho's death sparked protests in Dublin with many calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
A solicitor representing the Nkencho family has voiced “extreme concerns” about the lack of urgency in the GSOC investigation given that it has been upgraded to a criminal one.
Phelim O’Neill also expressed concerns about the time being taken for the interviewing of witnesses, including Nkencho’s three siblings, who were all eyewitnesses to the shooting from inside their home.
Nkenco had no previous criminal convictions. He had suffered with mental health issues in the years prior to his death.
