One of four alleged hijackers shot dead in high-speed chase

It was alleged a woman and her son were standing alongside their vehicle at the China Mall in Umbilo on Wednesday when two armed men threatened them and demanded their car, Southlands Sun reported.

Police said the mother and her son ran away, and the two men sped off with their two accomplices to Umlazi.

It was believed Brighton Beach police task team members, who were on patrol on the N4 when the hijacking took place, immediately set off in search of the hijackers.The officers waited at an Umlazi off ramp, and when the hijackers saw police vehicles they began shooting at the police, who returned fire.

A high-speed chase through the busy streets of Umlazi was brought to an end at the intersection of Mangosuthu Highway and Prince Mshiyeni roads when the driver of the hijacked car tried to make a getaway and stalled, police said.

Two of the hijackers got out and tried to run away. One of them continued firing at police as he ran, but he was shot and killed when the officers shot back, police added.

Two other hijackers were arrested, but police were unable to find the fourth suspect. The arrested suspects were charged with hijacking and attempted murder for firing at police.

The unidentified suspects are expected to appear in Durban Regional Court on Monday, January 12, where police will oppose bail.

The firearm found next to the dead shooter was sent for ballistics analysis to determine if it was used in any other crimes, police said.

Brighton Beach police communications officer Captain Louise Le Roux commended police for apprehending the suspects, recovering the stolen vehicle and firearm, and for achieving all of this without causing injury or death to civilians or any harm coming to them.

On Monday, a man was shot and arrested after a high-speed chase along Klipriver Road, in the south of Johannesburg.

Read more: One arrested in high-speed chase

– Caxton News Service