Lakes State police said on Friday they arrested a person believed to be the prime suspect in the armed attack that critically injured Rumbek's Catholic Bishop-elect Christian Carlassare.
Fr. Carlassare survived an assassination attempt when a group of armed men attacked him at his residence on April 25, 2021, and shot both his legs. He was transferred to Nairobi, Kenya for further treatment.
More than 20 suspects were arrested following the incident which caused a public outcry.
Captain Elijah Mabor Makuac, the state police spokesperson told Radio Tamazuj that the police in collaboration with the local community detained the prime suspect identified as Laat Makur Agok.
“The police have managed to arrest all the suspects that were allegedly involved in the case of shooting the catholic bishop. The suspect is finally arrested and he is under custody for questioning,” Mabor said.
The suspect, Mabor said, was hiding in the cattle camps but with the help of relatives, he was arrested.
The police officer noted that the police are now holding six main suspects in Rumbek Prison including one suspect who was arrested in Juba and airlifted to Rumbek Town.
Lakes state acting minister for information and communication and chairperson of the investigation committee for the Bishop-elect's shooting Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit confirmed the arrest and said the law will take its course.
“My message to everybody listening is that what the President of the Republic of South Sudan promised the world to bring the culprits who shot the bishop-elect Father Christian Carlassare in Rumbek has become a reality and now all the main suspects are arrested and the law will take it course immediately after the investigations," he said.
The Italian-born Comboni Missionary was appointed Bishop for Rumbek Diocese on March 8. His episcopal ordination was scheduled to take place on Pentecost Sunday, May 23 but was postponed until he recovers.