A suspected car hijacker literally shot himself in the foot when he and an accomplice tried to hijack a motorist on Vincent Tshabalala Road on 19 September.
Patrolling police heard gun shots and rushed to the scene. They saw men running away and gave chase. They followed the injured suspect to his home where he was arrested. He had in his possession a 9mm pistol, the victims keys and cellphone.
His partner in crime is still at large and Alex police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.
According to police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Moses Maphakela, the two suspects, aged about 30 years, approached a motorist driving a Ford Fiesta vehicle during peak hour traffic at about 7.45am near the 13th Avenue traffic lights.
The two suspects, one armed with a 9mm pistol, demanded keys to the car and when the driver handed the keys over, they also grabbed hold of his cellphone and fled. As they fled, the armed suspect accidentally shot himself in the foot. This alerted patrolling police who then gave chase.
The arrested suspect was taken to hospital under armed guard and will be charged with attempted hijacking, possessing an unlicensed firearm and suspected stolen goods.