uMlazi shootout: ‘Wrong’ suspect shot dead, child injured

Umlazi SAPS and a private security company, PT Alarms have come under fire for allegedly shooting dead an innocent man they identified as a suspect and injured an 8-year-old child during a shootout with criminals.

The incident took place on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, in uMlazi F section around 12:00.

PT ALARMS AND SAPS UNDER FIRE FOR UMLAZI SHOOTOUT

In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, PT Alarms provided details about the incident. The post was captioned “Umlazi shootout- suspect shot dead”.

“PT Alarms Tactical K9 unit and PT Ambulance Services responded to Umlazi where a shootout occurred between police and suspects. Reports indicate that there was one casualty injured. It is an active scene.

The casualty was transported to hospital. All relevant authorities responded to the scene together with other security and medical personnel. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are subject to police investigation.”

PT Alarms Facebook post

SHOOTOUT UNDER INVESTIGATION

READ: Watch: Police shoot unarmed man with his hands in the air

According to eyewitnesses, the deceased was an e-hailing services driver who had nothing to do with the crime. “The police were after two suspects for a crime they had committed and the two then requested e-haling services from the deceased. The criminals were then involved in a shootout with the police while in the deceased’s car. Police then shot dead the e-hailing services driver whom PT Alarms previously identified as a suspect. The suspects then fled scene and police are still on the lookout for them,” one of the witnesses said.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala confirmed the incident but did not comment on whether an innocent man was shot dead by police during the shootout.

“It is alleged that on Tuesday, 23 March 2020 at 12:20, a motorist was driving her vehicle at Orient Hill in Isipingo when she was robbed of her vehicle by two unknown suspects. The police were immediately alerted and the vehicle was spotted in Umlazi W section where a shoot-out ensued. The suspects’ hijacked vehicle crashed into another vehicle. The suspects immediately alighted and during the exchange of gunfire, one of the suspects aged 28 years was fatally wounded. The other suspect managed to flee the scene in another vehicle. There is a child that sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire and was rushed to hospital for medical attention.”

KZN Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala

Gwala also added that the matter is still under investigation and that charges of carjacking, and attempted murder were opened for investigation by uMlazi SAPS.