Two people were arrested, one of them with a gunshot wound, after a shoot-out between police and the occupants of a suspicious BMW that crashed through a boom gate at the Centurion Mall in Centurion, south of Pretoria.
Police spokesperson Brig Mathapelo Peters said officers were on crime prevention duty when they spotted the BMW in the underground parking area at the mall on Wednesday.
As officers approached the BMW, the occupants pointed a gun at police and sped off.
“Police gave chase, the BMW continued speeding away, in the process driving through and damaging the boom gate,” said Peters.
Police managed to corner the BMW just outside the mall after an exchange of gunfire.
Two suspects were arrested — one of them injured.
Peters said a search of the BMW uncovered electronic goods. Police also seized an illegal firearm at the scene that was subsequently linked to a house robbery reported at Littleton police station in August 2019.
The suspects are expected to appear in court on charges of pointing a firearm, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, possession of suspected stolen property and malicious damage to property.
“This arrest and recoveries are remarkable to the extent that even with such brazen criminals who will not think twice to shoot at policemen, our members continue to place their lives in harm's way, all in the best interest of protecting our communities and their property,” said acting provincial police commissioner Maj-Gen Johan Ndlovu.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said the shooting happened around 2.30pm.
Herbst said the man was shot in his lower torso. He was stabilised and transported to hospital in a critical condition.
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