The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has condemned the callous murders of four people which included two police officers, in Hammarsdale last night. “It is very sad indeed to attend scenes of crime where police officers are gunned down just because they have responded to the call of duty. The swift arrest of a suspect in this case is commended. I would like to extend my condolences to the families of our fallen heroes,” he said.
Last night at 19:30, three police officers responded to a murder of a woman at Cliffdale area in Hammarsdale. Whilst they were attending to the crime scene, it is alleged that the perpetrator returned and opened fire on the police officers, fatally wounding two of them. The suspect is further alleged to have shot another elderly woman at the scene before fleeing. The two police officers who are in their fifties are from the Hammarsdale police station. The third police officer was fortunately not injured during the shootout.
Following the immediate mobilisation of all available disciplines within the SAPS, the team received information of a man fitting the description of the suspect receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital. Police officers swiftly responded and placed the 38-year-old suspect under arrest pending further investigation.
Update:
The suspect in this matter has been found dead in dense bushes near the crime scene. He was shot and injured during the shootout with police and died after fleeing the scene. A firearm taken from one of the police officers was found in his possession.
In the early hours of this morning police officers were able to follow the path taken by the suspect which led to the discovery of the body. Investigators are still processing the scene. The suspect is in his thirties.
The initial suspect taken in for questioning will be released pending investigation into the injury he sustained.
