THE Metro cops have shot dead a suspected gang member after he allegedly opened fire on them.
This happened during a patrol in the Manenberg area in Cape Town on Tuesday night, 17 October at about 7pm.
According to the MMC for Safety and Security Jean-Pierre Smith, officers came under fire allegedly from a 35-year-old gunman on Rio Grande Street.
The dead man is believed to be a member of the Hard Livings gang.
The area has been marred by gang violence in the past few weeks, leading to the deaths of many people including women and children. The gang wars are between the Hard Living gang and Clever Kids gang, who are fighting over control of the area.
“At about 7pm, members responded to the sound of gunfire and observed a suspect crouching on Rio Grande Street while shooting in the direction of his opposition. Metro police ordered the suspect to lower his weapon but instead the attacker turned his weapon and fired in the direction of the approaching officers. Metro police returned fire, causing the suspect to run in an attempt to evade custody.
“The wounded suspect collapsed shortly afterwards, and officers immediately summoned medical assistance. The suspect, a 35-year-old male, was however declared deceased by medical personnel a short while later,” Smith said.
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There has been warfare between gangs of various townships in the Cape Flats in the past few weeks. In Hanover Park, six-year-old Zakariyah Noble was shot in the chest and died on Monday, 17 October at about 5pm.
Police spokesman Colonel Malcom Pojie said cops are hard at work in dealing with gang-related activities.
“Members attached to the Anti-Gang Unit will continue with tracing and search operations to eradicate the prevalence of illegal possession of prohibit firearms which are used by gangs to commit serious crime,” said Pojie.
About Zakaria’s shooting, Pojie confirmed that Philippi cops have opened a case of murder.
“Reports reveal that the boy was caught in the crossfire and sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared deceased as he succumbed to the injury sustained,” said Pojie.
