Members of the Hawks’ Technical Operation Management Section (Toms), based in Parktown, recently shot and critically wounded three runaway suspects in Krugersdorp.
Toms members received information about a hijacked Toyota double cab with three occupants who were allegedly on their way to commit an armed robbery in Johannesburg.
According to Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu, a communication officer for the Hawks, the members followed the suspicious vehicle on the N14 towards Krugersdorp. The suspect’s vehicle stopped at the filling station on the same route and the police then tried to pull them over at the garage, but the suspects started shooting at the police and left the garage at high speed.
A chase ensued for a few kilometres until the suspects lost control of their vehicle and hit a ditch. “The suspects tried to flee on foot, still shooting at the police, but the men of law returned fire, critically wounding all the suspects,” explained Mulamu.
Police recovered two sets of police handcuffs, police blue lights, and two unlicensed firearms. Further investigation revealed that the suspects’ vehicle had been hijacked in Mpumalanga and it had a police registration number belonging to the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC).
“The suspects are in a critical condition in hospital under police guard. The trio, aged 28, 31 and 34, will appear in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court soon for attempted murder, possession of police equipment, unlicensed firearms and hijacking,” concluded Mulamu.
