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SA police gun down suspected Zimbabwean armed robber
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A suspected Zimbabwean armed robber has died, while two accomplices have been injured after a shootout with South African police and a security company following a robbery in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng province, on Thursday, November 6, 2024.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the trio was cornered in a rented room after executing a business robbery in Elukwatini. Police said that when confronted, the suspects opened fire as they were counting their stolen loot.
"An investigation is underway following a business robbery at Elukwatini in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday November 6, 2024, at about 1:30 AM," SAPS said in a statement shortly after the incident.
Police officers from the Elukwatini precinct, in collaboration with a private security company, responded to the robbery at a local filling station at Nhlazatshe Crossings. Upon their arrival, the officers received information that the suspects had stolen an undisclosed amount of cash, cigarettes, and betting vouchers.
A follow-up operation led police to a rented room where the suspects were reportedly still counting the stolen money. When police attempted to apprehend the trio, they fired shots from inside the room, prompting officers to return fire.
SAPS Mpumalanga provincial spokesperson, Captain Magonseni Nkosi, confirmed that one of the suspects was killed in the exchange of gunfire, while the other two were injured and taken into police custody for medical treatment.
"The suspects were subdued, and one died from gunshot wounds," Nkosi said. "An undisclosed amount of cash and a firearm were recovered from the scene."
The identities of the deceased and the injured suspects are still under investigation, and SAPS has not yet confirmed whether the suspects were previously known to authorities. The two surviving accomplices are expected to appear in the Elukwatini Magistrate's Court once they recover from their injuries.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will conduct a probe into the shooting, as SAPS officers were involved in the incident. The investigation aims to ensure transparency and fairness regarding the events that led to the exchange of gunfire.
"This investigation is to ensure that there is clarity about what transpired during the shooting and that all necessary procedures were followed," said Nkosi.
The robbery and subsequent shootout have raised concerns over cross-border criminal activity, with South African authorities emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the trio was cornered in a rented room after executing a business robbery in Elukwatini. Police said that when confronted, the suspects opened fire as they were counting their stolen loot.
"An investigation is underway following a business robbery at Elukwatini in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday November 6, 2024, at about 1:30 AM," SAPS said in a statement shortly after the incident.
Police officers from the Elukwatini precinct, in collaboration with a private security company, responded to the robbery at a local filling station at Nhlazatshe Crossings. Upon their arrival, the officers received information that the suspects had stolen an undisclosed amount of cash, cigarettes, and betting vouchers.
A follow-up operation led police to a rented room where the suspects were reportedly still counting the stolen money. When police attempted to apprehend the trio, they fired shots from inside the room, prompting officers to return fire.
"The suspects were subdued, and one died from gunshot wounds," Nkosi said. "An undisclosed amount of cash and a firearm were recovered from the scene."
The identities of the deceased and the injured suspects are still under investigation, and SAPS has not yet confirmed whether the suspects were previously known to authorities. The two surviving accomplices are expected to appear in the Elukwatini Magistrate's Court once they recover from their injuries.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) will conduct a probe into the shooting, as SAPS officers were involved in the incident. The investigation aims to ensure transparency and fairness regarding the events that led to the exchange of gunfire.
"This investigation is to ensure that there is clarity about what transpired during the shooting and that all necessary procedures were followed," said Nkosi.
The robbery and subsequent shootout have raised concerns over cross-border criminal activity, with South African authorities emphasizing the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime.
Source - newsday
