Police Sergeant among suspected robbers

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Police Commissioner in KZN Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said that it is rather sad to find themselves having to be involved in a gun fight with their members in the blue on the opposite side committing a crime.

He said this Sunday afternoon in confirming that one of their members was involved in a business robbery that saw several suspects being shot dead by the police in retaliation. The said member was said to be a police Sergeant.

At least six suspects, some dressed in police uniform and others wearing pieces of police uniform, reportedly stormed into a store in Richmond on Sunday morning and held the shop owner and the staff at gunpoint, before robbing the victims of their firearms, undisclosed amount of money and other items.

The two vehicles which were spotted fleeing from the crime scene following an intelligence operation and were traced to a residence on Mgwenya Avenue in Lindelani.

“When the suspects realised the presence of the police, they opened fire as they ran out of the house. Two suspects were shot and fatally wounded at the scene. They were both found wearing police headdresses. One of them was also in possession of a police firearm and a police bullet proof vest.”

“Another police bullet proof vest and a police raincoat were found inside the house. A vehicle belonging to a police officer, who had just reported off duty earlier in the morning from his night shift at KwaMashu police station, was found at the scene.”

“Police then received another intelligence about an injured police officer who was hiding inside a shack at Phindangene informal settlement in Ntuzuma B. When the police arrived at the scene, the police Sergeant fired shots at the police officers and in a resultant shootout, he was shot and fatally wounded. He was found to be the owner of a police firearm which was found in possession of the slain suspect at the first crime scene, as well as the owner of the vehicle.”

Mkhwanazi also said that a manhunt is still underway for the remaining three suspect who are still at large. The house which the suspects were found in belongs to a known cash in transit robbery suspect who is out on bail. Investigations are also underway to establish if the police officer was involved in other robberies.