A dramatic incident unfolded at the Richmond Police Station’s Community Service Centre (CSC) on Saturday afternoon, leaving one man dead and a police officer injured.

According to police reports, the deceased, who posed as a client seeking assistance, arrived at the CSC and requested help in contacting his mother. However, without warning, he reportedly overpowered an officer and grabbed their firearm, sparking a struggle for control of the weapon.

During the scuffle, a female police officer was shot in the finger, and the suspect began firing at other officers inside the CSC, where members of the public were present.

In response, police returned fire, fatally wounding the man. Eyewitnesses report that the suspect claimed to be fleeing unknown assailants, stating he would rather die at the hands of police than his pursuers.

“The injured officer is receiving medical attention, and the entire police shift that was on duty Saturday night will undergo psychological support to address the trauma experienced,” says police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.

Netshiunda adds that the police have opened three counts of attempted murder of police officers and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The community has expressed shock and concern over the event, highlighting the risks faced by police officers in their line of duty.

Speaking to The Witness, Richmond resident Mpilo Mnikathi states he never believed such a thing could happen in his community.

“I was not there physically, but I don’t live too far from the police station, so I heard the shots being fired. It’s shocking that this happened in a police station. This is where we are supposed to feel the safest,” says Mnikathi.

Mayor Melikhaya Ngcongo adds that the municipality is working with the police to investigate the case.

“We do not know where this person was from. We send our condolences to the family, but we applaud the police who were at the station at the time for what they did.

“This person put the lives of the police and the community members who were there to be assisted at risk. We are still trying to find his family,” says Ngcongo.

Ngcongo adds that the police station was closed temporarily on Saturday but was reopened yesterday.