An Alex man in his mid-twenties was arrested at about 7.20pm on 25 October after a high-speed car chase and shootout with the police.
Alex police spokesperson Captain Allie Kodisang said the suspect’s accomplice escaped as the two men abandoned the vehicle in a cul-de-sac on Vincent Tshabalala Road.
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The vehicle, a Ford Fiesta had been stolen by the men in Ebony Park 30 minutes earlier. Kodisang said the armed suspects allegedly pounced on two sisters who had driven into their home and were unloading groceries from the vehicle. One of the sisters was in the house and heard a commotion outside. She went to check and the suspects forced the sisters into the house and demanded the house and vehicle keys.
The men loaded the groceries back into the vehicle and drove off leaving the victims locked in the house. The vehicle which was equipped with a tracker system was reported and the police picked up its signal in Alex. When the police officers spotted the vehicle on 15th Avenue, the suspects shot at them and sped away resulting in the chase.
The arrested suspect was found in possession of two unlicensed pistols, live ammunition, and four cellphones suspected to belong to the victims. The suspect is due in court and will be charged with house and vehicle robbery, attempted murder of police officers and for the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
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Two bystanders were caught in the crossfire and sustained face and leg injuries, and are receiving treatment at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.
Kodisang urged the community to get indoors when the police were chasing suspects to avoid injury in an exchange of gunfire.
Details: Alex Police Station 011 321 7621
