A Pinetown priest, faced by four robbers, made a dash for his life when the gunmen were involved in a fatal shoot-out with undercover policemen on the church premises.
Father Justin Stirton, 60, of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception in Underwood Road was taking the night’s collections to the church office when he was confronted by the four gunmen.
The attack is the latest in a string of armed robberies at places of worship – there have been several incidents since the beginning of the year.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Vincent Mdunge, said members of the Pinetown crime prevention and Durban K9 units were tipped off about a possible robbery during the 5pm Mass.
Two suspected robbers were shot dead by police, another man was arrested and a fourth man escaped.
Mdunge said undercover officers stationed themselves in the vicinity of the church and watched as a white VW Jetta drove up and three men alighted and entered the Roman Catholic church.
“They pretended to be church-goers and took their places inside the building. The fourth man parked the getaway car at the nearby Spar, which is about half a kilometre away,” Mdunge said.
As the Mass was drawing to a close, the man drove the vehicle into the church parking lot and entered the building.
“The priest was left alone after the service. While he was taking the collection money into his office, the men pulled out firearms and demanded the cash.
“Police officers entered at the same time and ordered them to surrender.”
Fire
The men allegedly refused and instead opened fire on the officers. Police returned fire and shot three men, killing two.
Mdunge said the priest used the distraction to flee and found safety inside the church.
“The third suspect was bitten by a police dog on his hand while the fourth man escaped, despite being shot. We are now searching for him,” Mdunge said.
No one else was injured during the gunfight.
After the shooting a few concerned parishioners, still in the area, returned to comfort the priest.
ER24 spokesman, Derrick Banks, said paramedics declared the two suspects dead and treated and stabilised the third man at the scene before he was taken into police custody.
Mdunge said two unlicensed guns – a .38 revolver and a 9mm pistol – were recovered.
“We also seized their vehicle and we are checking to see if it is stolen. The firearms were sent to our forensic science laboratory to ascertain if they are linked to other robberies, such as those at other places of worship.”
When contacted last night, church officials declined to comment.
Police are investigating a case of armed robbery with aggravating circumstances.
In August there were three attacks on places of worship in Durban.
The Imam Hussain Mosque, Madrasah and Cultural Centre in Ottawa, Verulam, was attacked by seven men, who also made off with worshippers’ belongings and two cars, a Lexus and VW Polo.
In the other incidents, two worshippers were shot by a group of armed men who stole a car from Ebenezer Ministries, in Bayview, Chatsworth.
Worshippers at the Valley Temple in Verulam were robbed of their belongings and three cars were stolen while they were praying.
Earlier this year, Umlazi Zion Church members were held up by a group of armed robbers, including a female police officer.
In this case the thieves were later arrested. - Daily News
