Suspect dead in shoot-out with KZN cops, police officer wounded

 A suspect was shot and killed during a shoot-out with police in KwaZulu-Natal, and an officer was shot in the arm in the same incident.

It is understood the gun battle took place in Msinga on Tuesday night.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a multidisciplinary team, which included national deployment, made major a breakthrough when they arrested a suspect who was wanted for a triple murder he allegedly committed at KwaNqulu in October 2023.

Shootout

Netshiunda said the suspect was traced and cornered in Msinga, KZN, where he was arrested.

“He was found in possession of a rifle, believed to be the weapon used in the commission of the murders. When the police were on their way to detain the arrested suspect, another person was spotted with a firearm at a local taxi tank. 

“When the police approached him, the man started firing shots, injuring one police officer in the arm. Police returned fire and in the shoot-out, the suspect was fatally wounded. He was found in possession of a .38 special revolver with the serial number erased,” Netshiunda said.

Netshiunda added that the firearms will be taken for ballistic testing to ascertain whether they are linked to other crime scenes.

“The injured police officer was taken to hospital for medical attention. The arrested suspect will appear in the Msinga Magistrate’s Court soon.”

ALSO READ: Eight CIT robbers killed in shootout with police in Khayelitsha

Cape Town shoot-out

The shoot-out comes a day after eight suspected cash-in-transit (CIT) robbers were killed in a shoot-out with police in Cape Town.

The gun battle between the police and the alleged robbers took place in Khayelitsha on Monday evening.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said a multidisciplinary team comprising the intelligence operatives, special task force members and security company officials was following up on information about a possible cash-in-transit robbery when they pounced on would-be robbers in Town Two in Khayelitsha.

“As the team approached the CIT suspects, the would-be robbers started firing shots at police who retaliated. As a consequence, eight suspects were shot dead and five were arrested.”

Potelwa said police confiscated several high-calibre weapons including AK 47 rifles, R5 rifles, improvised explosive chargers and numerous magazines filled with rounds of ammunition.

ALSO READ: Robbery suspect killed in shootout with KZN police