Man shot and killed during alleged break-in at Blinkpan church
Details around fatal church shooting still unclear police say
A man was shot and killed on the church grounds directly opposite the Blinkpan police station around 02:00 this morning.
Police members at the station were blissfully unaware of the drama unfolding on the church grounds, where the burglary took place.
The burglary triggered the alarm system at the church, after which a church employee, residing on the property, went to investigate what triggered the alarm.
The employee notified other church members who rushed to the property, where the observed movement inside the kitchen.
One of the people who arrived at the scene then confronted the alleged burglar inside the kitchen where a struggle unfolded.
The scuffle moved from the kitchen to the outside of the church building where two warning shots were fired by another person.
According to Mpumalanga SAPS spokesman Captain Magonseni Nkosi, what transpired next, is not yet clear.
According to information supplied on the scene, the alleged burglar broke free from the scuffle and charged the person who fired the warning shots.
A third shot was then fired, resulting in the death of the alleged burglar.
Police are still on the scene.
Captain Nkosi said that police will release further details, including whether any formal arrests will be made, once the investigation on the ground has been completed.
Captain Nkosi could also not say whether one or more people were involved with the alleged break-in at this stage.
