JMPD officer shot in Ivory Park after pulling over bakkie

21 March 2017 - 13:30 By TMG Digital
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JMPD vehicle. File photo
JMPD vehicle. File photo
Image: Reuben Goldberg

A Johannesburg Metro Police (JMPD) officer is in a stable condition in hospital after being shot after pulling over a suspicious looking bakkie in Ivory Park in Midrand‚ the city’s MMC for safety‚ Michael Sun‚ said on Tuesday.

The injured policeman‚ who was shot at around 12.20pm on Monday‚ remains in ICU for observation‚ he said.

Sun said the man and another JMPD officer were conducting a stop-and-search operation as part of a visible policing exercise on Freedom Drive in Ivory Park Extension 2.

When they indicated that a suspicious looking white bakkie pull over‚ the four male occupants stopped‚ exited the vehicle‚ and one gunman fired his R-5 automatic rifle at the officers.

The officers returned fire with their 9mm service pistols. During the incident one of the officers was shot in the arm and leg. The suspects fled the scene and the vehicle was later recovered at Tembisa Hostel. No arrests had been made yet‚ Sun said.

“During further investigation‚ it was revealed that the suspects had also robbed a business near the vicinity where the officers were conducting the stop-and-search operation‚” he added.

Sun said this was the second incident during the past month where gunmen had opened fire on JMPD officers with R-5 automatic rifles.

“It is cause for concern that criminals in the City are so heavily armed. “We will continue with our visible policing operations and request that members of the public contact us on 011 375 5911‚ if they have any information regarding yesterday’s incident‚” Sun said.

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