Image via: Adobe Stock
Police officer allegedly shoots colleague in freak accident in Daveyton
An investigation has been launched after a police officer allegedly shot and killed her colleague in Daveyton, Gauteng on Thursday.
Image via: Adobe Stock
The Independent Police Investigative Police Directorate (Ipid) has launched an investigation after a police officer allegedly shot and killed her colleague in a freak accident in Daveyton, Gauteng.
Ipid said it was investigating “death as a result of police action”. The incident allegedly occurred around 2:15 on Thursday morning, 2 July.
POLICE PURSUE FOUR SUSPECTS IN DAVEYTON
It is alleged that five police members were on patrol duties while driving in a state vehicle. They were at Daveyton Client Service Centre when they received a call to provide backup support to their colleagues who were out doing their community duties.
“As alleged, the five members proceeded to Sia Street Daveyton, upon their arrival, they were informed by their colleagues that the suspects ran away,” said Ipid spokesperson Ndileka Cola.
“The five officials who were called out for back up left their colleagues, as they proceed[ed] to patrol in the area, they noticed the four suspects and approached them, the four allegedly ran in pairs in two different directions,” said Cola.
POLICE OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED
According to Ipid, the police van chased two of the four suspects. A police officer who was seated in the left-back seat, behind the passenger seat, took out her firearm, opened the door and was getting ready to jump out and chase the suspects.
The driver then turned the vehicle towards the direction in which the suspects had run. It was at that moment that the officer’s firearm went off and shot her 27-year-old colleague who was seated in the front passenger seat in front of her.
The police officer who was shot was taken to Glenwood Hospital where he was certified dead on arrival. IPID said it is continuing with investigations regarding the incident.
TWO OFFICERS GUNNED DOWN IN SEPARATE INCIDENT
In a separate incident, two traffic officers based in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal were gunned down while driving to work on Tuesday 9 June. According to reports, unknown assailants opened fire on their vehicle at 6:00 in the morning.
Metro Police spokesperson Parbhoo Sewpersad said: “The scene is active. We at the Metro police are shocked by what we have heard and seen and at this stage. It is unknown what the circumstances were. We cannot say whether it was a drive-by shooting. The SAPS and members of the Hawks are investigating and will be able to give us more info soon.”
