Armed suspect killed storming reaction officer in Mbombela CBD

A 31-year-old man was shot and killed near the Promenade in the Mbombela CBD on Monday morning, August 14, when he reportedly tried to attack an ACS Spartan reaction officer with a knife.

The Nelspruit Police Station’s spokesperson, Constable Bongani Mokoena, said the incident occurred at 08:40. ACS Spartan’s John Meintjes said some reaction officers were dispatched to the corner of Samora Machel Drive and Henshall Street when a client called the control room and reported a group of men causing trouble in the area.

“As the officers arrived, a schoolboy approached them and said his phone had just been stolen by four men armed with knives. He gave the officers a description, and they went to look for the suspects,” said Meintjes.

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He said they found some of the suspects fitting the description nearby and managed to apprehend one. The other three fled up Samora Machel Drive towards the Promenade.

“One of the officers went around to the entrance of the Promenade and saw some men sitting in the parking area, and one of them matched the description given by the schoolboy.

“The officer called to the man and told him to come over so they could talk, but the suspect immediately jumped up and took out his knife.

“The officer warned the man that he was armed and that he just wanted to talk, but the man started running towards him, and the officer fired a warning shot into the ground.”

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Meintjes said the suspect opened his knife and continued approaching him like he was going to try and stab the officer.

“The officer shot him in the leg, but the man continued with his attempts to storm the officer. This is when he fired another shot through his shoulder, but because of the angle, the bullet is thought to have punctured both his lungs, and he was declared dead on the scene.”

He said the officers ended up arresting one other suspect in the incident against the schoolboy. The fourth suspect has not yet been caught.

Mokoena said the man has since been identified as Jeffrey Sbiya from Lehawu in Pienaar.

“The deceased had been arrested for a similar crime earlier this month,” said Mokoena.

He said the police are investigating a case of murder following the incident.