THE two suspects who were shot and killed during a shoot-out with the police on Tara Road on May 9, were linked to a hijacking case that happened in Malvern early this month. This is according to the KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.

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According to the information received, the police were tracing a vehicle that was suspected to have been involved in criminal activities, and the vehicle was spotted along Tara Road.

In a bid to evade arrest, the suspects sped off towards Merebank, and the police gave chase. Joining the chase were security companies, members of the SAPS and Durban Central Police.

A pedestrian who was walking on the road was hit by the suspects’ car while trying to cross the road at the scene. He was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the police were tracing a car that was suspected to have been involved in criminal activities, and the vehicle was spotted along Tara Road.

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“With initial investigations revealing that the vehicle was reported hijacked in Malvern earlier this month, police signalled for the vehicle to stop. The occupants of the vehicle decided to defy the police’s orders and sped off, sparking a high-speed chase which saw a pedestrian sustaining injuries after he was knocked down by the suspects’ vehicle,” said Netshiunda.

It is alleged that during the chase, the suspects fired shots at the police, and the police returned fire.

“During the shoot-out, the police vehicle crashed into a railway track and got stuck, but that did not stop the dedicated police officers who pursued the suspects on foot until the suspects’ vehicle came to a standstill after it also crashed.

“The suspects were found lying dead outside the vehicle. Police officers were not injured during the shoot-out, and cases of attempted murder of police officers were opened against the suspects,” Netshiunda added.

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