Two dead after wild shooting in CBD
The suspect is still at large and a massive manhunt is underway, with heavily-armed police scouring the town.
A woman was shot dead in Murchison Street in a wild shooting that shocked afternoon shoppers on Tuesday.
The street was in chaos after a police officer (a CID detective) and a woman (a close relative) were shot as they were getting into the policeman’s car.
A man, now identified as a police reservist (believed to be in a relationship with the woman), approached the vehicle from the passenger side, opened the door and shot the woman at pointblank range.
It is believed the man (killer) and woman had argued earlier in the day. The woman had called a family relative who is a Ladysmith police detective to pick her up from work, as she was afraid.
The detective (believed to be a family member) managed to dive out of the vehicle and tried to hide from the crazed gunman as shots rang out.
According to bystanders, the detective attempted to crawl under his vehicle with the gunman firing repeatedly at him. The callous reservist then disarmed the seriously injured detective before fleeing on foot.
A Correctional Services officer, hearing the gunshots, gave chase but lost sight of the suspect.
A car guard who saw everything happen says that the man approached the two as they were getting into the car and started shooting the woman in the passenger seat. When the driver realised they were being attacked, he tried to hide underneath the vehicle, but was still shot.
The suspect, a police reservist, is still at large and a massive manhunt is underway, with heavily-armed police scouring the town.
The injured officer was rushed to hospital in a critical condition. (For safety reasons, the location of the hospital is being withheld)
The police officer has died in hospital as a result of his injuries.
Heavily-armed police are currently hunting for the suspect, who is believed to be armed and dangerous.
The suspect is being hunted by members of the elite TRT Unit and K9 officers.
The identity of the Ladysmith police detective and his female relative who were killed on Tuesday is being withheld until all family members have been informed, as is standard police procedure. The names of all parties are known to the Ladysmith Gazette, but out of respect to the families, the names will not be released until the police give the go-ahead.
Update: HERE
