A Free State police brigadier was shot twice during an armed robbery at the Klip River after one of the suspects allegedly discovered a police reflector jacket in her vehicle, reports the Sedibeng Ster.

The officer and her sister had been returning to their vehicle after performing traditional rituals at the river on Sunday (October 11), when they were allegedly confronted by two armed men.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the suspects demanded the vehicle keys and the women’s cellphones.

When the brigadier reportedly refused to hand over the keys, one of the suspects allegedly struck her on the head with a firearm before instructing her to get into the vehicle while they searched it.

Robbers open fire after finding uniform

The officer was allegedly shot in the stomach while seated in the driver’s seat.

During the robbery, one of the suspects reportedly found a police reflector jacket inside the vehicle and alerted his accomplice that their victim was a police officer.

The brigadier was then allegedly shot again, this time in the knee, before the suspects fled with her sister’s cellphone.

Detectives hunt armed suspects

Both women were taken to hospital after the incident.

A team of detectives and the Crime Scene Management Team were dispatched to investigate the shooting and robbery.

“The suspects remain at large, and police investigations continue,” said Nevhuhulwi.

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