Teen hijacking suspect shot

Chatsworth police received a complaint of a hijacking that occurred in Shallcross, Durban, at about 6.15pm on Wednesday, Rising Sun Chatsworth reported.

It is alleged the complainant parked his vehicle outside his home when he was approached by two armed men.

The suspects threatened the complainant with firearms, and they snatched his cellphones and an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing with his vehicle.

Police immediately responded to the scene and circulated the details of a hijacked motor vehicle.

Durban Flying Squad and Durban K9 Unit tracked the hijacked vehicle to Mariannhill, police said.

Chatsworth police communications officer Lieutenant Cheryl Pillay said the suspects allegedly fired at police, who returned fire and injured one suspect.

“One male suspect, 19 years of age, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently under police guard at a local hospital. Police recovered the hijacked vehicle, two firearms and cellular phones,” said Pillay.

In a separate incident, police shot dead an alleged hijacking suspect and arrested two others during a shoot-out on Mangosuthu Highway, in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, earlier this month.

The suspects allegedly approached a 39-year-old woman and her son and demanded their vehicle.

Police said the victims, who were believed to be outside the vehicle at the time, ran away in fear and called 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 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.

– Caxton News Service