Hijacking suspect killed, two arrested in KZN shootout

The suspects were allegedly approached a 39-year-old woman and her son and demanded the vehicle, Rising Sun Chatsworth reported.

The victims, who were believed to be outside the vehicle at the time, became terrified and ran away, calling for help.

The suspects allegedly fled with the car.

Durban Flying Squad members were alerted to the situation and immediately made their way to the V section on the Mangosuthu Highway, where they tried to stop the suspects, police said.

The suspects opened fire and the police retaliated, fatally wounding a 22-year-old suspect, added police.

Police said two suspects, aged 26 and 28, were arrested for hijacking and attempted murder.

A firearm was recovered from the suspects and will be sent for ballistics testing to establish whether it was used in other crimes.

No officers were injured during the shootout.

Lieutenant-General Commissioner Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the members for the speedy arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the hijacked vehicle as well as the firearm.

“Criminals should be warned that police will not hesitate to retaliate when they come under attack during the execution of their official duties”, said Ngobeni.

In a separate incident, a suspected robber was shot dead by police in Roodekop, east of Johannesburg, in December last year.

Police said four people who posed as customers at a scrap yard confronted the owner with firearms and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

As police were responding to the scene, one of the suspects was spotted crossing Heidelberg Road not far from the scene, police added.

The suspect fired shots at police, who returned fire and shot him dead, police said.

 – Caxton News Service