Four arrested following shootout in Empangeni

Yesterday at 15:00, customers were busy enjoying their shopping at a business premises in Empangeni when an unknown man approached the cashier who was performing her duties. At gunpoint the suspect instructed the cashier to remove cash from the till and place it in his bag.

His three accomplices also held up the security guard at gunpoint and unsuccessfully attempted to open a cellphone display case. An off duty police officer, Captain Velasazi Ndlela from Empangeni police station who was at the business premises with his family realised that the place was being robbed and managed to sneak out. He waited for the suspects at the entrance with his service pistol on hand.

One of the suspects realised that the police officer was waiting for them and opened fire on him whilst summoning his friends to make a getaway. As they attempted to flee a shootout ensued and two suspects were injured. The remaining two continued with their attempted to flee but they were promptly arrested a few meters away from the scene, by police officers who responded to their colleagues call for backup. Two unlicensed firearms and a bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash was seized.

The two injured suspects were taken to hospital for medical attention where they are under police guard. All four suspects aged between 21 and 34 will appear at the Empangeni Magistrates Court on Monday, 1 October 2018 facing charges of attempted murder, robbery as well as possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.