RESIDENTS of Bayview, a quiet suburb in the south of Durban, woke up to a fierce gun battle between suspected car hijackers and the police on Tuesday.
During the exchange of gunfire, police shot one suspect dead, arrested another and one managed to flee on foot.
KZN police said Bayview cops were conducting an operation to curb hijackings in the area at about 4.45am when they spotted a grey VW Polo driving at high speed on Sheridan Road.
Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said the occupants of the car saw the marked police vehicle and started shooting at it.
“Police returned fire, fatally wounding one suspect. The second suspect was arrested and the third managed to flee the scene on foot after their vehicle crashed,” said Zwane.
When police investigated the vehicle after it crashed, it was discovered that it had been hijacked in Chatsworth.
“A firearm was also recovered from the scene and will be taken for ballistic tests to establish if it was used in any other crimes in the province,” said Zwane.
Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni, commended the police for being vigilant and for protecting their lives when they were attacked by the criminals.
The arrested suspect (27) will be charged for being in possession of suspected stolen property, possession of an unlicensed firearm and attempted murder.
He will appear in the Chatsworth Magistrates Court soon.
