Three suspects fatally wounded in gun battle with police
Intelligence, together with information from community members, led police to a house where the three suspects were hiding.
Three suspects, who were wanted for several cases of murder in Amaoti, within Inanda, were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police on Monday afternoon.
Following the arrest of four gang members in Cato Manor, last month, police officers were hot on the heels of more suspects, one of whom narrowly evaded arrest when the four were arrested.
Intelligence, together with information from community members, led police to a house where the three suspects were hiding.
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KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson, Col Robert Netshiunda, said, “As police approached the house, the suspects started shooting at the police through the windows. Police returned fire, resulting in three suspects being fatally wounded. The suspect, who evaded arrest last month, was among the three and is believed to be the gang leader. Three firearms were found in the possession of the suspects.”
No police officers were injured during the shootout. In another incident nearby, five suspects were arrested with five firearms, ammunition, and drugs in KwaMashu in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Col Netshiunda said, “Police officers, who are members of Public Order Policing (POP) were conducting patrols and stop and search operations when they spotted a vehicle with five young men at a filling station in Bridge City, KwaMashu.Vigilant police officers approached the vehicle, and during the subsequent search, five suspects were found in possession of a firearm each and several rounds of ammunition. Police officers also found substances suspected to be drugs. The driver of the vehicle claimed to be an e-hailing driver, who was hired by the suspects, however, he failed to produce a license for the firearm found in his possession.”
The suspects, who are in their late teens or early 20s, are said to appear in court soon. Gang-related incidents have been a matter of concern for KwaZulu-Natal law enforcement, which has included several cash-in-transit heists, hijackings and robberies.
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The SAPS has sent a strong message to communities that crime has no place in society, and people at large should report the whereabouts of criminals, as they hide out in known areas.
Forensic investigators have sent the weapons of the three suspects, left dead in the shootout, for ballistic testing to determine if they were used to commit other crimes.
