KIGALI– Officers at Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) are calling upon the public to report any information related to the gruesome murder of top Rwandan Model Alexia Uwera Mupende.
The call was made Wednesday, as the investigation and pursuit of suspect(s) entered Day 2.
Alexia Mupende was found dead in her bedroom Tuesday evening. She lived with her parents in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District.
The main suspect Antoine Niyireba, who was a house help in the family home, is still at large.
According to his ID, the 23-year-old suspect is from Karongi District in Western Province.
He is believed to have fled the scene shortly after the cold-blood murder.
It is still unclear if he acted alone with investigators saying they are pursuing all angles.
“We are not yet sure if the suspect committed the crime alone. It could be one or more people involved in this case,” Rwanda Investigations Bureau (RIB) Spokesperson Modeste Mbabazi told The New Times.
Police also took to social media to caution against the spreading of unverified information regarding the case.
?”We wish to clarify that the suspects in the murder of Alexia Mupende are yet to be apprehended. Kindly ignore the rumours circulating on social media,” Rwanda police tweeted.
We wish to clarify that the suspects in the murder of Alexia Mupende are yet to be apprehended. Kindly ignore the rumours circulating on social media. #RIPAlexia
— Rwanda National Police (@Rwandapolice) January 9, 2019
Their call was in reaction to unconfirmed reports that the suspect has been apprehended.
The RIB spokesperson added that they are waiting for a report from the doctors for more details of the crime.
Mupende was stabbed on the neck at her father’s home in Nyarugunga Sector, Kicukiro District and her body has since been taken to the nearby Rwanda Military Hospital (RMH).
Following the death of Mupende, various people paid tribute to the model and sent condolence messages to the bereaved family.
May your beautiful soul Rest In Peace Dear Alexia Mupende.
So young… It’s a choc for all of us.
All my deep condolences to her family. ? #JusticeBeDone pic.twitter.com/0e0bWUGqTe— Sonia Rolland (@SoniaRolland) January 10, 2019
Mupende, prominent model and actress, was the general manager of Waka Fitness, a popular fitness centre in Kigali.
The New Times reports that family sources say the deceased would be laid to rest on Sunday at Rusororo cemetery in Gasabo District.