S.Africa: Off-duty policeman and 3 business robbers shot, Addo

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An off-duty police Sergeant as well as three alleged business robbers were shot and wounded on Sunday evening, 4 July 2021, in Addo.

On Sunday, 4 July 2021 at about 19:00, it is alleged that at least three men wearing face masks, two armed with firearms stormed into a shop in Duka Street, Nomathamsanqa area, Addo.

The two armed with firearms held owner, assistants and customers at gunpoint, while a third suspect stole cell phones and cash from a cash register. An off-duty police Sergeant that was not far away from the shop, heard the commotion and tactically approached the scene. As the three men were fleeing the scene, a shoot-out ensued between a police official and the suspects.

One of the suspects (28) was wounded and arrested at the scene. Police also confiscated a 9mm pistol with a live ammunition for further investigation.

On Monday morning, 5 July 2021, police received a call from Kirkwood Hospital after two men arrived with gunshot wounds. The two men aged 22 and 24 were positively linked to a business robbery in Addo, and were both arrested.

The investigation led to the arrest of the fourth suspect on Tuesday, 6 July 2021 at his workplace in Addo. All four suspects aged between 22 and 28, from Mqanduli are due to appear in the Addo Magistrate’s Court on charges of business robbery.

There is a possibility of additional charges at the later stage of the investigation.

On behalf of the Acting District Commissioner, Colonel Simon Swarts commended the off-duty Sergeant from the Port Elizabeth Public Order Policing Unit (POPS) for his heroic action. “The thorough investigation that followed ensured that the three outstanding suspects were arrested,” added Col Swarts.

In a separate incident, a 33-year-old man was arrested after it was alleged that he attempted to rob a store with a toy gun in Jeffreys Bay on the morning of 6 July 2021. It is said that the man who initially posed as a customer entered a store in Jeffreys Street, Jeffreys Bay and bought cigarettes and thereafter left.

It is further said that moments later, the same man stormed into the store with a firearm and held an owner at gunpoint. An alert owner on seeing that a firearm was not firing every time a suspect was pulling a trigger, he decided to fight him. A struggle ensued and with the assistance of a security guard, a suspect was arrested.

A man is due to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 7 July 2021 on charges of attempted business robbery.

Source: https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/eastern-cape/off-duty-policeman-and-3-business-robbers-shot-addo/

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