Durban – A police officer and an alleged robber were wounded in a shootout in Phoenix, south of Durban, police said on Tuesday.
Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala said police were shot at after attempting to thwart a robbery at a late night food outlet in the early hours of Monday morning, where workers' cellphones and cash were stolen.
The 10 suspects, who apparently posed as air conditioning repairmen also took an undisclosed amount of cash from the tills.
Some of the 10 fled on foot, while others escape in a VW Polo and a Toyota Yaris.
"The suspects continued firing shots towards the members and during the crossfire, a police officer was shot and wounded. He was taken to hospital for treatment. Police officers gave chase to those suspects, who fled on foot and were seen in the nearby premises.
"They shot towards the members and the members returned [fire]... wounding one suspect. He was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment under police guard."
Gwala said an unlicensed 9mm pistol was found at the scene. She said that the bullet-ridden VW Polo was found abandoned in the Amaoti area. The vehicle was believed to have been hijacked in the Berea area, Gwala said.
The arrested suspect could be linked to other crimes, but would first be charged with business robbery and attempted murder.
"Police are still searching for the outstanding suspects who fled the scene," she said.
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/cop-suspected-robber-wounded-in-kzn-shootout-20160830
Lieutenant Nqobile Gwala said police were shot at after attempting to thwart a robbery at a late night food outlet in the early hours of Monday morning, where workers' cellphones and cash were stolen.
The 10 suspects, who apparently posed as air conditioning repairmen also took an undisclosed amount of cash from the tills.
Some of the 10 fled on foot, while others escape in a VW Polo and a Toyota Yaris.
"The suspects continued firing shots towards the members and during the crossfire, a police officer was shot and wounded. He was taken to hospital for treatment. Police officers gave chase to those suspects, who fled on foot and were seen in the nearby premises.
"They shot towards the members and the members returned [fire]... wounding one suspect. He was arrested and taken to hospital for treatment under police guard."
Gwala said an unlicensed 9mm pistol was found at the scene. She said that the bullet-ridden VW Polo was found abandoned in the Amaoti area. The vehicle was believed to have been hijacked in the Berea area, Gwala said.
The arrested suspect could be linked to other crimes, but would first be charged with business robbery and attempted murder.
"Police are still searching for the outstanding suspects who fled the scene," she said.
News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/cop-suspected-robber-wounded-in-kzn-shootout-20160830
