Eyewitness News: Police hunt for Kempton Park criminals

Shain Germaner | 16 January 2013
KEMPTON PARK - Residents of Kempton Park who were in their homes during a vicious gun battle between police and nine criminals, said they were shocked by the incident happening on their front doorsteps.

On Tuesday morning, police were chasing a taxi carrying the nine men through the East Rand city, when the taxi eventually pulled over on Parkland Drive.

The men jumped from their vehicle and opened fire and wounded two officers.

Another suspect also ended up shooting himself in the head, when cornered by police.

Three men were arrested, but five others escaped the scene.

A resident who was describing the incident to Eyewitness News said, "We heard the first shot and thought that it was fireworks, but when we heard multiple shots, we came out and checked what was going on.”

Meanwhile, police are still on the hunt for the five men who escaped through the nearby veld.

RECOVERING

The two police officers who were wounded are recovering from their injuries.

One officer was shot in the hand and the other took a bullet to the leg.

The police’s Katlego Mogale said, “Three firearms were recovered and have been linked to an armed robbery that happened in Brakpan last year.”

A total of five police officers have been shot in Gauteng this week alone.

Police say the upsurge of shootings involving officers shows that special measures must be taken to bring criminals to justice.

(Edited by Katleho Mogase)

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