One of the suspect who fatally shot in Emalahleni.
Three suspects were fatally wounded following a business robbery at a jewellery shop in Emalahleni on Wednesday, April 15, at approximately 10:00.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Colonel Mavela Masondo, said it is reported that about eight armed suspects stormed a jewellery shop at Highveld Mall in Emalahleni and held a security guard and an employee at gunpoint before robbing them of an undisclosed amount of jewellery.
“Police and private security companies were alerted to the business robbery in progress and responded swiftly. The suspects were intercepted shortly after they drove out of the mall in different getaway vehicles. During the incident, three of the suspects were fatally shot, while others fled the scene and are still at large,” he said.
Masondo added that at the crime scene, police recovered three pistols, a rifle, and rounds of ammunition believed to have been used by the suspects. A Toyota RAV4 fitted with false registration number plates, which was also used as a getaway vehicle, was recovered.
“Some of the jewellery taken from the shop was recovered inside the said getaway vehicle. Police have opened a case of business robbery for investigation, while the Independent Police Investigative Directorate will investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths of the three suspects,” Masondo added.
He further said that a search is underway for the suspects who are still at large. Police urge anyone with information that may assist in apprehending the suspects to call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or send information via the MySAPS app.
The recovered firearms will be sent for ballistic testing to establish whether they were used in the commission of other crimes.
