Suspect found dead after four people, including two cops, killed in KZN

Suspect who killed four people, including two police officers, found dead not far from the scene.

15 December 2024 - 11:25 By MFUNDO MKHIZE
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Police arrested a man after a shooting at the funeral. Stock photo.
Police arrested a man after a shooting at the funeral. Stock photo.
Image: 123RF/BELCHONOK

A KwaZulu-Natal man alleged to have killed four people in Cliffdale near Hammarsdale, including two police officers, has been found dead in dense bush near the crime scene.

According to police spokesperson Brig Jay Naicker, he was wounded during a shoot-out with police and died after fleeing the scene. A firearm taken from one of the police officers was found in his possession.

Naicker said three police officers from the Hammarsdale police station had responded to the murder of a woman in Cliffdale at about 7.30pm on Saturday.

While they were attending the crime scene, the perpetrator returned and opened fire, fatally wounding two of the police officers.

“The suspect is further alleged to have shot another woman before fleeing,” said Naicker.

He said the third police officer was not injured during the shooting.

According to Naicker, in the early hours of Sunday police officers were able to follow the path taken by the suspect which led to the discovery of the body. Investigators are still processing the scene. The suspect was in his thirties.

Earlier, police said they had arrested a suspect, who was believed to have fled the scene and behind the killing of the four. Naicker said the initial suspect taken in for questioning would be released pending an investigation into the injury he sustained.

The shootings have been condemned by provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

“It is very sad indeed to attend these scenes of crime where police officers are gunned down because they have responded to the call of duty. I would like to express condolences to the families of the fallen heroes,” said Mkhwanazi.

TimesLIVE


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