Yesterday at 15:15, employees were performing their duties at jewellery shop in Pietermaritzburg CBD when they were confronted by an armed man. He threatened the employees with a firearm and told them to place the jewellery in the plastic bag. Fearing for their lives they did as instructed and handed the jewellery to him.
The police officers who were conducting crime prevention duties received a complaint of a robbery in progress and proceeded to the business premises together along with other law enforcement agencies. On arrival at the scene, the suspect spotted the police and opened fire, wounding a 55-year-old police Sergeant in the abdomen. The suspect placed his firearm on the table and surrendered himself over to police after he sustained two gunshot wounds to the upper right side of his chest and left arm. The police officer and the suspect were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
The 36-year-old suspect is in hospital under police guard and will appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court for charges of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and robbery once he is discharged.