Suspects open fire on Flying Squad car‚ killing police officer

Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for suspects who opened fire on a Flying Squad vehicle in Soweto West just after midday on Sunday‚ killing one of the police officers.

The victim was outside his bar lounge with three other people, including his brother, when unknown gunmen driving a Mazda 3 opened fire to their direction. File photo.
The victim was outside his bar lounge with three other people, including his brother, when unknown gunmen driving a Mazda 3 opened fire to their direction. File photo. (File photo )

Gauteng police have launched a manhunt for suspects who opened fire on a Flying Squad vehicle in Soweto West just after midday on Sunday‚ killing one of the police officers.

Police said the 36-year-old constable and two colleagues who were on routine crime prevention duty had stopped at the Engen filling station in Mofolo South when they spotted a suspicious vehicle and followed it to Elias Motswaledi Road.

“The suspects suddenly opened fire at the police vehicle and the Constable who was driving‚ was shot in the upper body. A 14-year old passer-by was also shot and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

The police member was declared dead on the scene‚” police said. It said the suspects were driving a silver Mercedes Benz with tinted windows.

The vehicle’s registration number WKR935GP has since been confirmed by police as bogus.