By: Ben T.C. Brooks |River Gee County Contributing Reporter
River Gee County-Monday, Oct. 20, 2025-Residents of the Teajiliken Road Community in Fish Town, River Gee County, are still reeling in shock after a brutal gasoline attack left a 19-year-old man, Joseph Youlo, fighting for his life.
According to eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, October 19, 2025, following what locals described as a heated disagreement between the victim and his alleged attacker, 20-year-old Sampson Tarwillie.
Witnesses say Tarwillie reportedly poured gasoline on Youlo before setting him ablaze, a scene residents have described as “barbaric,” “heartless,” and “beyond comprehension.”
“We’ve never seen something so cruel here. People are terrified, it’s heartbreaking to see our young people turn violent over small misunderstandings,” said Ma Sarah Wleh, a community resident who witnessed the horrifying incident.
The alleged perpetrator, Sampson Tarwillie, is said to be the son of Wesay Tarwillie, a former Representative candidate for River Gee electoral district 2, of the 2023 general and presidential elections. Tarwillie previously served as an officer at both the Palace of Correction and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency-LDEA in the River Gee detachment.
The family’s political and law enforcement background has fueled heightened public attention, with residents calling on authorities to ensure transparency and fairness in the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, the victim, Joseph Youlo, is at the Fish Town Referral Hospital, where medical professionals are battling to stabilize him. Doctors confirmed that he sustained extensive burns to multiple parts of his body.
Family members, deeply traumatized by the ordeal, are pleading for justice and urging the government to take stronger measures in curbing the rising tide of violence among young people in the county. “Joseph is in pain every minute, all we want is justice,” a relative told Rural Reporters Online News in tears.
Shortly after the attack, an angry crowd reportedly descended on the suspect; beating him severely before police intervened. Officers from the Liberia National Police (LNP) River Gee Detachment quickly arrived on the scene, rescued Tarwillie from the mob, and placed him under arrest.
A police source, speaking to Rural Reporters Online News on condition of anonymity, described the incident as “deeply troubling.”
“The suspect is in custody, and victim is receiving medical care. We urge residents to remain calm, avoid mob justice, and allow the legal process to take its course,” the officer said.
The shocking event has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the increase in youth-related violence, drug use, and the absence of community discipline in Fish Town and neighboring areas.
Local leaders and youth advocates have condemned the act in the strongest terms, urging young people to resolve conflicts peacefully rather than through violence.
Community elder, George Dweh lamented the moral decline within the younger generation.
“Our community is crumbling when disagreements end in attempted murder. We need serious awareness campaigns and stronger community policing before this lawlessness spreads further,” he said. As the Liberia National Police intensify their investigation, residents are demanding swift justice and calling on county authorities to implement stronger measures to prevent similar tragedies.
