Shoot-out in St Chad’s leaves one dead
One of the suspects fired upon police as they gave chase on foot, and was subsequently shot and killed
A shoot-out between suspects and police took place in St Chad’s in the early hours of this morning (Sunday), leaving one person dead.
At about 1.30am, members of the National Intervention Unit were following up on information about two suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms, which led them to a house in the St Chad’s area of Ezakheni.
As the group of police officers surrounded the property, the suspects fired upon them from inside the house. Police returned fire and people ran from the house. One of the suspects fired upon police as they gave chase on foot, and was subsequently shot and killed. The second suspect fled and managed to escape.
An unlicensed firearm was found in possession of the deceased. The deceased is about 25 years old and has not yet been formally identified. Ezakheni police are investigating an inquest into the death.
Official police press release:
On Sunday 9 February 2014 at about 01:30 members from the National Intervention Unit were following up on information of two alleged taxi hitmen who were in possession of unlicensed firearms in Ladysmith area. The information led them to a house in the St Chads area of Ezakheni. As the group of police officials surrounded the house the suspects fired upon them from within the house. Police returned fire whereupon the suspects ran out from the house. One of the suspects allegedly fired upon police as they gave chase on foot and was subsequently shot and killed. The second suspect fled managing to evade arrest. An unlicensed firearm was found in possession of the deceased. The deceased is about 25 years old and has not yet been formally identified. Police at Ezakheni are investigating an inquest into his death as well as attempted murder docket.
The National Intervention Unit has successfully recovered a total of 21 unlicensed firearms with 125 live rounds and arrested 10 suspects for possession of unlicensed firearms at Ladysmith and Eshowe areas since 17 January 2014. Recovered firearms include AK47 rifles, 303 rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolver specials. The members will continue with such operations to get rid of unlicensed firearms in the province. All recovered firearms will be sent for ballistic tests to establish if they were used in any other crimes in the province.
Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner commended the members for their outstanding work that led to the recovery of such firearms in the province. She encouraged the community members to work with the police by providing valuable information about any criminal activities in their areas. ‘Criminals must be exposed to the police so that they will be arrested and brought before the court of law,’ she said.
