An off-duty police captain noticed the armed man robbing a business in Sign Street, Actonville, after the shop owner screamed for help.
“The officer went back to his vehicle to collect his firearm and was joined by two Actonville police officers, who were patrolling nearby,” said Benoni police cluster spokesperson Lieut Nomsa Sekele.
The thug took the shop owner’s handbag, which contained undisclosed amount of money, and came running out of the shop.
Police gave chase and, when he realised that they were closing in on him, he opened fire on them.
A bullet struck the off-duty officer in the arm, and others retaliated.
“The suspect died after being shot more than once in the upper body,” said Sekele.
The handbag he stole lay near his lifeless body.
