The Metro Police officer, from the Intervention Unit, was shot at with a high-calibre rifle and his patrol vehicle was taken by the assailants last week, on Monday, at around 10am in Langaville.
Read: Law enforcement hunts for suspects who shot at EMPD officer
Although his patrol vehicle was damaged by the shots fired, the officer luckily came out unharmed from the incident.
“Information received from the community of Langaville led to one suspect being apprehended at about 2pm on Wednesday, by the EMPD Tracing, First Responder and SWAT Unit members,” says EMPD spokesman Wilfred Kgasago.
“The arrested suspect admitted to being one of the three men who shot at the metro officer and driving away in his patrol vehicle.
“The suspect even pointed out exactly where the incident took place, as well as where the patrol vehicle was abandoned.”
Kgasago adds that, most importantly, the suspect mentioned that the high-calibre rifle used was not an AK47, as was initially suspected, but an R5 rifle and that they were also in possession of a 9mm pistol.
Furthermore, the suspect pointed out the two houses in Langaville Extension Five where his two accomplices live, but, the two suspects were not home.
“Although the suspect had admitted on arrest that he was part of the three perpetrators, he subsequently denied all allegations and thus the Tsakane Magistrates Court released him,” Kgasago says.
“The EMPD has vowed to hunt down those responsible and to keep close tabs on the released suspect, as well as the houses he pointed out as his accomplices’ residences.
“The police will also be looking for the Toyota Corolla used on the day of the shooting, and the mentioned firearms.”
