Johannesburg – A high-speed car chase along the R21 Wednesday morning led to a deadly shootout, near Tembisa, that left three suspects dead.
Two other suspects were critically wounded.
The high-speed chase involved a multidisciplinary law enforcement team comprising the DPCI Tactical Operations Management Section, Gauteng Traffic Saturation Unit, Ekurhuleni District Trio Tracing, Tracker Connect, Vision Tactical, and Bad Boyz Security.
Narrating events leading to the car chase and shootout, Colonel Katlego Mogale of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said the team had been following up on information about a gang of armed robbers known to target shopping malls and courier vehicles.
They gang was also involved in other serious violent crimes.
Events leading to the deadly shootout began Wednesday morning when the armed gang committed a shopping mall robbery, near Carnival City, where they overpowered security guards.
Police immediately set about tracing a silver VW Toureg and blue BMW used as getaway cars after the robbery.
The vehicles were spotted driving along the R21 northbound.
“An operational plan was executed in an attempt to stop the suspects’ vehicles,” said Colonel Mogale.
“The suspects tried to evade police and a high-speed chase ensued.”
Colonel Mogale said the suspects started shooting at the police.
“Members returned fire bringing the suspects’ vehicle to a halt after colliding into a barrier,” said Colonel Mogale.
“Three suspects in the vehicle were fatally wounded and the other two were taken to hospital in critical condition for medical attention.”
Three unlicensed firearms, ammunition and cargo were recovered in the Toureg.
A preliminary investigation established that the VW SUV was reported stolen in January at the Brooklyn Police Station, Pretoria.
One of the recovered firearms was reported as stolen in Isipingo, south of Durban.
The second vehicle was spotted en route to Mamelodi and was intercepted by the Tshwane K9 unit. Four suspects were detained.
The members took the suspects to their residences, where more evidence was found.
All three vehicles, a BMW 1 series, Toyota Corolla, and VW Jetta were also seized on the scene.
The suspects will be appearing in court soon for attempted murder, possession of suspected stolen property, armed robbery, and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.