The swift response by Samora Machel Crime Prevention Unit members landed a 28-year-old suspect behind bars for being in possession of two prohibited firearms yesterday afternoon.
The members were busy with crime prevention duties when they received information about armed suspects in the Heinz Park area. They responded to the tipoff and spotted the suspects in Daffodil Street, who opened fire at police. The members retaliated and managed to arrest one of the suspects who was caught in possession of two pistols without serial numbers. The suspect is due to make his court appearance in Athlone once he has been charged.
In an unrelated police intervention, a 40-year-old suspect was arrested in possession of a stolen pistol and a hijacked vehicle in Kuis Rivier. This morning a Flying Squad patrol vehicle spotted a suspicious vehicle with three male occupants in Van Riebeeck Road Kuils Rivier which then led to a brief high-speed pursuit. The white Toyota Etios collided with a private vehicle in their attempt to evade arrest. The driver and one of the passengers of the Etios succumbed to death while the third occupant, stained injuries.
He was admitted to the hospital where he will be detained for the possession of a 9 mm pistol stolen during 2016 in East London, and the possession of a stolen vehicle that was hijacked in Fish Hoek during August 2020. The identity of the two fatal victims is yet to be determined.