FOUR armed robbery suspects were reportedly killed in a shoot-out with members of the Marshal Security Special Operations Team.
This follows a high-speed chase on the N2 southbound on Wednesday, 2 March.
According to Marshal Security, their members were alerted about a white Mercedes-Benz with six armed and dangerous suspects that were involved in a shooting with a security company, Urban Defence, in the Morningside area in Durban just before midday.
“Our members then spotted the wanted vehicle driving on the N2 southbound and they immediately pursued. When the suspects noticed our team members, they opened fire and a high-speed chase proceeded on the N2 south. During the chase the suspects were relentless in making their escape and continued to shoot at our members,” the company said.
When the suspects approached the Higginson Highway off-ramp in Chatsworth, they lost control of their car and crashed into a truck.
“They immediately exited the vehicle and again opened fire on our Special Operation Team members. Our members returned fire, during which three suspects were shot dead and one was wounded. Two suspects fled the scene on foot, and one of them was later found deceased on the N2 northbound after the M1 off-ramp after succumbing to his injuries,” the statement read.
The other suspect remains at large after fleeing into a dense bush.
The police’s K9 unit arrived on scene to search for the remaining suspect but was unsuccessful.
“Three unlicensed firearms were found on the scene and the suspects’ vehicle was identified as having been hijacked in the Pinetown area in December 2021. A jamming device, used to block tracking devices, was also found in the vehicle,” Marshal Security added.
Provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Nqobile Gwala said this started as a chase between the security guards and the suspicious vehicle when it was spotted at the corner of Cowie and Clarence Road in Berea.
“The guards were suspicious of the vehicle. When they approached it, the driver sped off. The guards alerted the police and they got involved in the high-speed chase which culminated in the shootout. One man escaped and was firing at the police in the process, and was hit and died below the N2 bridge,” Gwala said
