The plan to seize a vehicle went horribly wrong for a group of suspected hijackers, ending with two suspects shot and a third arrested.
|||Durban - The plan to seize a vehicle went horribly wrong for a group of suspected hijackers on Friday morning.
It ended with two suspects shot and wounded, a third arrested and their vehicle crashed.
It is alleged that the victim, who did not want to be identified as he is a former policeman, was parked on the side of Clayton Road in Sydenham when a white Hyundai Tucson pulled up next to him.
Sensing he was in danger, the victim allegedly fired at the suspects who had got out of the vehicle and were running towards his car.
In a panic, one of the men tried to jump back into the Tucson, but the driver had already started to reverse the car at high speed.
The vehicle climbed up onto the kerb, up a small embankment and toppled onto its side, trapping one of the suspects underneath.
According to witnesses, the driver jumped out the vehicle and fled the scene.
Ethekwini Metro spokesman, Sen. Supt Eugene Msomi said initial reports indicated the suspects had run towards the vehicle with guns drawn.
“Metro Police members in a vehicle patrolling the area saw what was happening and responded, also calling for a back-up.
“Two suspects, who were shot and wounded, were arrested, a third was arrested unharmed and the fourth suspect disappeared among the shacks. The vehicle was not taken by the suspects and the victim was not harmed,” said Msomi.
Another witness said the suspects had allegedly told police they had come from Umlazi with the intention of hijacking a vehicle.
Police also recovered an unlicensed firearm and confirmed the crashed Tucson had been stolen in Umbilo last week.
SAPS spokesman Colonel Jay Naicker said a case of carjacking and possession of an unlicensed firearm had been opened and that the investigation is continuing.
Independent on Saturday