Off-ramp shooters due in court
Two men are expected to appear in court in connection with the death of a young father on Tuesday.
The two men accused of gunning down a young father in a robbery on the John Vorster off-ramp in Centurion were to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
They face a string of charges, including being in the possession of unlicensed firearms, possession of suspected stolen property, robbery, reckless and negligent driving, and murder.
The victim, named as Costa Karvouniaris, was shot three times by three armed men on Friday afternoon around 15:00. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
Garsfontein police spokesperson Warrant Officer Dave Miller said the two men were arrested after a shootout with police in Tembisa.
A patrol vehicle from Lyttelton police station responded to the shooting on the off-ramp and obtained from eyewitnesses the number plate of a black Range Rover the attackers had used.
“According to eyewitnesses, the Range Rover pulled in front of the victim’s car, a white Chrysler 300C,” Miller said.
“Three men, armed with small-calibre firearms and assault rifles got out of their vehicle, approached the Chrysler and shot the driver before taking a number of bags from the car.”
All three fled in the Range Rover.
The Lyttelton police circulated this information to police around the province.
The Range Rover was spotted by police in Tembisa, and along with members of the Johannesburg Flying Squad, they gave chase.
“The chase led to a shootout in the streets of Tembisa between the suspects and police. A police helicopter joined in the pursuit,” said Miller.
“During the chase, one of the flying squad cars crashed, and the suspects were temporarily lost. They were soon spotted again and the police were back in pursuit.”
Miller said the fleeing vehicle eventually crashed into a wall of a house and the three occupants fled in different directions.The police apprehended two of them. Their search for the third man was continuing.
“The police also recovered R600 000 in cash and three firearms in the car.” Miller said it emerged that the Range Rover was stolen in Sandton earlier in the week.
“The fact that the suspects were apprehended are all thanks to the quick thinking of the Lyttelton police station and the fast reactions of police in Tembisa and the Johannesburg Flying Squad,” said Miller.
The victim leaves behind a wife and a baby. His family declined to comment.
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