A woman was shot and killed after she was caught in the crossfire between a suspect driving a hijacked vehicle and police yesterday (15 January) in Far East Bank in Alexandra. Alex community members have this evening (16 January) taken to the streets to protest.
The community is marching to the local police station.
The shooting incident unfolded yesterday (15 January). Alexandra Police Station spokesperson, Captain Stephen Malatjie, said the police officers were on a routine patrol on Lenin Drive at around 6.30pm when they spotted a vehicle that had been hijacked from the Marlboro Gautrain Station earlier in the day.
“Police tried to stop the car but the occupant pulled out a firearm and shot at the police. The officers retaliated and eventually the suspect was arrested,” he said.
Watch as protesters demand the police arrest the suspect:
Malatjie said it was discovered after the shooting that two bystanders, a man and a woman, were caught in the crossfire, and the woman was declared dead on the scene. He said the man was critically wounded.
IPID is investigating which of the firearms were responsible for the wounds sustained by the bystanders, Malatjie said.
The 29-year-old suspect was detained in the holding cells at Alexandra Police Station and was expected to appear in court soon.
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