Suspect arrested for alleged murder of taxi owner in Tembisa

According to the police, the victim had been shot multiple times at close range.

File image.

Ivory Park SAPS has arrested a 39-year-old suspect after the fatal shooting of a taxi owner at the local taxi rank at Ivory Park’s Extension Two on May 13, Tembisan reports.

According to the Ivory Park SAPS communications officer Captain Bernard Matimulane, the victim had been shot multiple times at close range.

“Local police on routine patrol heard gunshot sounds and immediately rushed in that direction. Upon their arrival on the scene, one of the alleged shooters was covertly pointed to the police. Seeing that his cover has been blown, the suspect fled the scene on foot but the agile constable on duty caught up with him. He was found in possession of a licensed firearm with 10 rounds of live ammunition. He admitted to having fired five shots,” said Matimulane.

Matimulane added the police are carefully following the leads as it was patently clear that there was more than one shooter on the scene.

“Judging by the number of gunshots heard by the police, the proximity of the victim to the alleged shooters, and the fact that he was shot so many times, the police are convinced that the killers went all out to murder the 38-year-old victim. More than 10 cartridges were recovered on the scene. The victim was declared dead on arrival at hospital,” added Matimulane.

The acting station commander of the Ivory Park SAPS, Colonel Baba Mpotoane, thanked the local community on the scene for assisting with identifying the suspect.

He further thanked the members involved in the arrest for their bravery and the swiftness with which they arrested the suspect.

“The police is positive that the other suspect in the shooting will be arrested soon. All the information at our disposal shall be thoroughly followed in order to establish the motive for the murder,” concluded Mpotoane.

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.