Suspects arrested after shootout with police

KWAZULU-NATAL: On Saturday, 26 March 2022, at 12:30, police officers from Phoenix received information about a vehicle with five occupants, who had committed a house robbery in the Phoenix area earlier this week.

Upon investigation and viewing the video footage, the police officers have established that the vehicle was used in a robbery in Phoenix on Thursday last week where the suspects were posing as municipal workers. The police officers received further information that the vehicle was heading towards KwaMashu from Resevoir Hills.

Police officers proceeded towards the M19 following the information. Whilst on the M19, the police officers spotted the vehicle on Inanda Road traveling towards Parlock.

A chase ensued and there was an exchange of gunfire causing the suspect’s vehicle to crash into a barrier along Inanda Road near Parlock.

All five suspects were apprehended at the scene. Three of the suspects sustained injuries in the collision and two were declared dead on the scene.

During a search of the vehicle, two firearms, jewellery, cellphones and various other items were found.

On initial investigation it was discovered that one of the suspects is currently out on bail for a robbery which was committed at the Phoenix Plaza during November last year where two jewellery stores were robbed.

Both firearms were seized and will be taken for ballistic testing. The vehicle that crashed was also seized and impounded for further investigation.

The three suspects will soon appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court facing charges of attempted murder, possession of suspected stolen property as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.