MBOMBELA – One of the city’s most wanted criminals was shot in the head by a resident of Uitkyk early on Friday morning during a failed housebreaking. Miraculously, he survived and police are in the process of linking him with various other crimes in Mbombela.
His apprehension was attributed to the vigilance of the resident, as well as excellent cooperation between Bossie’s Community Justice, Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit and the police’s flying squad and detective branch.
According to Mr Nico Grobler, operational manager of Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit, a resident of the Uitkyk area woke up to the sound of glass shattering. He got up to investigate and found three suspects men trying to break into his house through the verandah window. He shouted at them and they fled, only to return a few minutes later. He shouted again and they started shooting at him. He drew his own firearm and shot back, wounding one of the suspects in the head. They fled but the wounded man was found crawling down the road a few metres from the house.
According to Mr Jacques Ainslie, tactical emergency medical manager at Hi-Tech, the bullet had entered the top of his head. He was fully conscious and taken to Rob Ferreira Hospital under police guard.
A second suspect was arrested later that morning after police had followed up on information supplied by the wounded man. On Sunday, a firearm used in the attempted break-in was recovered near the spot where the wounded one was apprehended. Mr Hennie Potgieter of BCJ says the resident and his wife took a walk to the spot and found the gun hidden beneath branches and rocks.
BCJ thanked Col Erhardt Ströh of the detective branch and his team for their prompt assistance. Col Gerrie Agenbag, commander of the local detective branch, congratulated the teams on their swift reaction and good work. “The suspect is being linked with various other crimes in Mbombela and our investigation is ongoing.”
The suspect may not be identified until he has appeared in court.
