A police sergeant is among three suspected armed robbers who were shot and fatally wounded during a shootout with police in two separate incidents in Ntuzuma on Sunday afternoon.
The chain of events began when at least six suspects, some dressed in full police uniform and others wearing partial police gear, stormed into a store in Richmond on Sunday morning.
They held the shop owner and staff at gunpoint, robbing them of firearms, an undisclosed amount of money, and other valuables before fleeing the scene.
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Police, acting on intelligence, traced two vehicles seen fleeing the crime scene to a residence on Mgwenya Avenue in Lindelani.
Upon realizing the presence of law enforcement, the suspects attempted to escape, opening fire as they exited the house.
In the ensuing gunfire, two suspects were shot and fatally wounded. Both were found wearing police headdresses, with one also in possession of a police firearm and a bulletproof vest.
Additional police gear, including another bulletproof vest and a raincoat, was discovered inside the residence.
Among the items recovered was a vehicle belonging to a police officer who had just completed his night shift at the KwaMashu police station earlier that morning.
Further intelligence-led police to Phindangene informal settlement in Ntuzuma B, where they were informed of an injured police officer hiding inside a shack.
When officers arrived, the police sergeant fired shots at them, leading to a shootout in which he was fatally wounded.
The sergeant was identified as the owner of the police firearm found on one of the deceased suspects at the first crime scene and the owner of the vehicle at the Lindelani residence.
A manhunt is currently underway for the remaining three suspects who are still at large.
The house where the suspects were located is linked to a known cash-in-transit robbery suspect who is out on bail.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the police sergeant was involved in other criminal activities.
Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, has reaffirmed the commitment of the police force to combating crime from within, emphasizing that any officers involved in criminal activities will face the full force of the law.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects to contact the nearest police station.
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