Update: Double murder in CBD

A crazed gunman shot a woman dead and seriously injured 28-year-old detective Constable Sphamandla Mgaga in a wild shooting in Murchison Street on Tuesday afternoon.

The street was in chaos and shoppers dived for cover as the gunman went on the rampage.
This after the detective had come to collect a relative, Nonkululeko Mgaga, who had complained to him about being afraid of her abusive boyfriend.
They were seated in his vehicle when shots rang out.

The gunman, who has since been identified as an off-duty police reservist (and the boyfriend she feared), approached the vehicle from the passenger side, opened the door and shot her at point-blank range. The detective, who was in the driver’s seat, managed to dive out of the car. He took cover behind the vehicle as the gunman fired at him. According to eyewitnesses, the detective tried to hide from the hail of bullets.

A car guard who saw everything happening says the man approached the two as they were getting into the car and started shooting at the woman in the passenger seat.
When the driver realised they were being attacked, he tried to hide underneath the vehicle, but was still shot.

The gunman, after shooting the detective, removed his service pistol and cell-phone before fleeing on foot.

A Correctional Services officer who was nearby gave chase, but lost sight of the gunman in the afternoon mass of shoppers.

Emergency services rushed to the scene and both the injured were treated by paramedics. 28-year-old Nonkululeko was declared dead at the scene and Detective Constable Mgaga was rushed to hospital in a critical condition by Sharaj Ambulance Services. He later died of his injuries in hospital.

By this stage, fast-acting police had descended on the area.

Fearing that the suspect may be hiding out in the Murchison Mall, a shop-by-shop search was begun by heavily-armed police.

It was at this stage that officers realised the gunman had fled up Alexandra Street towards ‘Lookout Point’.

Elite members of the TRT and K9 Unit deployed at the top of the hill close to La Verna Hospital.
They then combed the hillside, searching for the suspect.

He had however managed to elude capture and is believed to have used a getaway vehicle parked nearby.

The massive police manhunt has now extended district-wide.
“The suspect is known to police and we are confident he will be arrested soon,” says police spokesperson Colonel Jay Naiker.
Provincial commissioner Lt General Ngobeni condemned the killing of the police officer and his relative.
“We will work around the clock to ensure that the murderer is arrested.”

Gallery: HERE please be warned the photographs are graphic in content