Trio suspects fatally wounded, duo in custody after shootout with police

Three suspects died on Wednesday afternoon, 08 December 2021, during gunfire exchange with a police team led by Hawks. Two more suspects were arrested.

Hawks’ Tactical Operational Management Section conducted an intelligence-driven operation along with Tracker Connect; Gauteng CI; SAPS Highway Patrol; GTP Saturation Unit; ICB Insurance Crime Bureau and Badboy Security in Roodepoort; searching for hijacking suspects who target Volkswagen Polo vehicles.

The team intercepted suspects on the roadside immediately after allegedly hijacking a Polo.

They tried to arrest them but suspects responded with a rain of bullets. This suspects’ act led to an exchange of gunfire, leaving three suspects fatally wounded.

Authorities arrested two more suspects aged 25 and 30.

Furthermore, police rescued the injured Polo owner held in the vehicle. They then took him to a hospital for medical attention.

Police also found three firearms with ammunition, cellphones and heavy duty gloves.

Suspects will be charged with murder; attempted murder; carjacking; possession of unlicensed firearms, and ammunition. They will appear before Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Friday, 10 December 2021.

Preliminary investigation revealed suspects’ linkage to more than 18 hijacking cases committed in Gauteng.

Reportedly, the syndicate members are using a Volkswagen Golf GTi to commit crime, whilst they used a Toyota Corolla in the past.