A suspected hijacker was injured in a shootout with police on Friday morning on Voortrekker Road just outside the Shoprite Shopping Centre.
He and his partner in crime were followed from Pretoria where they allegedly hijacked a white Golf GTI on the same day.
This comes after the two suspects, aged 30 and 31, were tracked down by Garsfontein police after they allegedly hijacked the vehicle in Eersterust in Pretoria.
According to Kempton police spokesperson, Capt Jethro Mtshali, police followed the suspects all the way to Kempton, where the chase came to a standstill at about 8.20am at the corner of Voortrekker Road and Langenhoven Avenue, opposite Shoprite and the Engen garage.
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“When the suspects realised they were being followed, one of them fired at the policemen. The officials reacted by firing back, hitting one of the suspects in the lower body,” Mtshali confirmed.
According to an eyewitness who was at a nearby guesthouse, the suspect was shot in both his legs close to his ankles.
More crime scene photographs
“I just heard gunshots and a helicopter flying in the air. When I went to look, I saw policemen firing shots at the Golf, which came to a standstill afterwards. They (cops) were carrying big guns, like rifles,” the eyewitness said.
The one suspect was taken to Tembisa Hospital under police surveillance and the second suspect is in police custody.
A case of possession of a stolen car and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition is now being investigated by Kempton SAPS detectives.
An additional charge of attempted murder may also be added.
