An armed robber was shot dead by police in a shoot-out on Friday afternoon.
The exchange of gunfire took place after Bergville Spar, situated at the corner of West and Tatham Road, was robbed by five armed gunmen. The robbers forced their way into the business before opening time and demanded cash from the safe. However, they soon fled empty-handed, taking only the safe keys with them. Minutes later, a passing police vehicle was flagged down by Spar employees, who reported the incident to them. The officers mobilised backup and went in pursuit of the suspects, who had fled in a Toyota Avanza in the direction of the Emmaus area. Police from Bergville and Winterton gave chase. With assistance from the community, they traced the criminals to the Ethunzini area, where the robbers opened fire on them. Police retaliated, resulting in the suspects abandoning their vehicle and fleeing on foot into the mountainous terrain. Police followed on foot as shots were still fired at them. In the crossfire, one of the suspects was fatally wounded. The other four managed to evade capture.
A 9mm pistol was recovered in the deceased’s possession and it was later determined that the gun was stolen during an armed robbery at Kwadakuza during September. The vehicle used by the suspects was found to have been stolen in Bellair earlier this month.
One Spar employee was slightly injured (bruising) during the incident and a police vehicle was damaged by a gunshot. The deceased suspect has not yet been identified, and police are investigating a case of armed robbery.
