Athlone shooting stuns crime fighters as cop is wounded in Nyanga shootout

A shootout with police resulted in the deaths of three suspects and left one officer wounded. In a shocking escalation of violence, a key witness in a murder case was shot dead in a suspected gang-related attack in Athlone on Wednesday night, raising alarm among local crime fighters and residents alike. The incident unfolded in a hail of bullets at the busy intersection of Belgravia Road and Voel Street, where the victim was gunned down in front of horrified onlookers.

A bystander was also caught in the crossfire, sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg. Sources close to the investigation said: “Eleven cartridges were found on the scene. The deceased is a witness in a murder matter at Athlone SAPS.

The investigation continues. The lady who was with him was a bystander and they only shot her once in the legs.” Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana said Athlone police registered a murder case following the first shooting incident on Wednesday night. Mpendukana explained: “The members received an alert about the incident at 10.10pm on Wednesday, February 4.

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Upon their arrival at the crime scene, they found one male who was shot several times and declared dead on the scene. “They also found a female shot in the leg; she was rushed to the nearest hospital.

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