Police Saturday confirmed the killing of a suspected armed robber and the arrest of four others following an exchange of gunfire at Mount Barclay, Montserrado County.

Deputy Police Director for Operation Abramah Kromah, who disclosed this to reporters, said the shooting began at about 2.00 am Saturday after police received a call from residents of Mount Barclay suggesting that they were under attack by armed robbers.

"We responded quickly and on the way, we structured our men on the field. The armed robbers opened fire on us. During the exchange of fire one of the armed robbers got killed and four others were arrested. His body was deposited at the JFK Medical Center," he pointed out.

The Police Operation chief revealed that a former officer of the Police Support Until (PSU) Emmanuel Peter, 24, who is also believed to be a junior student of the University of Liberia was part of the robbing gang.

The other suspects were Jonathan Dosin, 34, Charles Doewee, 36, and Prince Mandee, 30.

Director Kromah said the police responded professionally. As a result, he said, no one was injured from the side of the police and residents.

On the question of the arms that were used by the suspected robbers, Director Kromah said they were armed with three single barrel guns seized by the police.

"We cannot say much now because we are still collecting statements from them before they can be charged and forwarded to court for prosecution

"We will not rest in going after them. There will be no room for troubling peaceful citizens. The Police Inspector General Clarence Massaguio has mandated us to continue going after them in order to make the country peaceful for our people and foreign residents here," he stressed.

However, the four suspected armed robbers have denied the police version of the story, claiming that they were wrongfully arrested by the police.

A former officer of the Police Support Until (PSU) Emmanuel Peter, 24, and Junior Student of the University of Liberia said they were falsely accused by the police for armed robbery.

He said they were earlier arrested for loitering but to their surprise they were booked for armed robbery.

"I have no record of being on a criminal list to say armed robbery. It just beat my imagination to be accused of armed robbery in the same community that I live. The truth would be revealed so long there is God because our arrest is only intended to damage our reputation," he stressed.