2 shot in armed robbery: suspects still at large
"They were very aggressive and assaulted us with the firearms, demanding money" victim
MOKOPANE – A 53-year-old reaction officer of Suricat Armed Response and a 22-year-old resident were both shot in the left leg in a shootout during an armed robbery in Akasia on Saturday night.
According to the family whose house was targeted in Olienhout Street at around 22:00 by an estimated five heavily armed suspects wearing balaclavas, it seemed like an opportunistic attack.
The family said: “The suspects followed our guests to our house, thinking that they were the owners. When our guests got out of their vehicle to enter our gate, they were overpowered by the suspects and held at gunpoint after which the suspects demanded we open the door.”
The youngest daughter said when her mother saw what was happening she screamed which alerted their next-door neighbour who called for help and rushed to their rescue. The suspects ordered the family and their friends to sit in the lounge and escorted the youngest daughter to her father’s room at gunpoint to wake him.
“They were very aggressive and assaulted us with the firearms, demanding money.
“While they ransacked my parents’ room we heard shots being fired outside.”
After the shots were fired, one of the suspects alerted the others and told them to flee. They fled the scene with four cell phones, a laptop, and about R300 cash.
Jacob Kgase a reaction officer of Suricat, told Bosveld that he was on patrol when one of the residents from Akasia rushed past him and asked him to follow him.
“I had no idea what was going on and was totally blindsided when one of the suspects opened fire on my vehicle. During the rain of bullets I was hit in my left leg. I took cover and one of the suspects took my firearm and radio.”
Merely minutes after Kgase was shot a 22-year-old resident was on his way home when the suspects opened fire at his vehicle, one of the bullets going through the windshield and barely missing his head.
“One of the suspects pulled me out of my vehicle and demanded I hand over my gun because he thought I was also a reaction officer.
“At that moment all hell broke loose as a hail of bullets flew through the air when the suspects opened fire.
“One of the bullets hit me in the leg, luckily it was not very serious.”
The armed suspects fled in a silver Toyota Fortuner with “guns blazing”.
Kgase is recovering in the Voortrekker Hospital, the 22-year-old resident is recovering at home and the youngest daughter of the targeted family had to receive stitches after she was pistol-whipped by the suspects.
The family thanks the community, Suricat, Combat Security, the Community Policing Forum and the police for their quick action and support.
Mokopane Police Spokesperson, Sgt Irene Masingi, reported: “The suspects are still at large. We appeal to anyone with information that can lead to an arrest to contact Capt Noleen Smith at 082 565 8277”.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
