Three alleged hijackers shot dead by police

Three suspected hijackers were fatally wounded during a shootout with police on Tuesday evening near Hammarsdale.

At about 11.30pm, members from the Shongweni K9 Unit, Midlands K9 Unit, Pietermaritzburg Flying Squad and Pietermaritzburg Organise Unite were following a Silver VW Jetta after the motor vehicle was suspected to be involved in a New Hanover carjacking earlier that day.

The police activated the police vehicle’s blue lights and sirens while proceeding up Key Ridge but the suspect vehicle failed to stop and kept on speeding up the N3 Freeway, south bound.

The police managed to force the vehicle to the side of the road and blocked it. The suspects got out of the vehicle and started firing towards the police, who retaliated.

The suspects ran to the veld adjacent the freeway and the K9 members released their dogs and gave chase. They discovered three suspects, aged between 22 and 32, were fatally wounded and were lying apart on the embankment. Two pistols were found lying next to the deceased.

No injuries were sustained by the members of the SAPS.

Hammarsdale police are investigating three counts of murder.

The alleged hijackers were suspected of being involved in the hijacking of a Chinese man (25) who was travelling on R33 Greytown Road near Mersey substation at around 1pm when he was hijacked with his Mercedes Sprinter by occupants of two motor vehicles.

“Shots were fired and the victim threatened with a firearm. The victim was kidnapped and dropped at Schroeders with the hijacked vehicle.

“The police followed the suspects towards Umsunduzi police patrol area where they arrested two suspects aged 33 and 40.

“They found two 9mm pistols and 30 rounds of live ammunition and the Audi used by the hijackers were recovered and seized by police,” said Colonel Jay Naicker.

The Umsunduzi Police are investigating cases of possession of stolen property and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.