Police in Search of Five Suspects in Connection with Mass Shooting
Following a horrific mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), police have arrested one suspect and are now on the hunt for at least five others believed to be involved in the incident.
The arrest took place in Nyezane, Estcourt, where a suspect was apprehended on Sunday, thanks to swift intelligence-driven investigations conducted by Amangwe police detectives.
Details of the Shooting
According to Colonel Robert Netshiunda, six suspects, all wearing face masks and armed with rifles and handguns, stormed a homestead where a traditional ceremony was taking place and opened fire. The brutal attack resulted in the death of three victims at the scene, with two others sustaining critical injuries. Sadly, one of the injured victims later passed away at a medical facility. The victims were aged between 45 and 61 years old.
The 28-year-old suspect who was arrested had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and a broken arm during the shooting. He was taken to the hospital by his accomplices, and it is still unclear whether he was hit by friendly fire or if someone else retaliated at the crime scene.
Motive Under Investigation
Netshiunda mentioned that the motive behind the mass shooting is currently under investigation. There are suspicions that the incident may be related to stock theft, as the deceased victims were members of the Community Anti-Stock Theft Group.
The arrested suspect will face trial once he has recovered from his injuries. Police are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of the remaining suspects to contact the nearest police station or call the crime stop number 08600 10111.
Recent Shootout with Wanted Suspects
In a separate incident, two suspects wanted for murder, attempted murder, and robbery were killed in a shootout with police in KZN. The confrontation took place in the Namibia area of Inanda, where the criminals were fatally wounded after firing shots at the police officers.
The Murder Task Team had received intelligence about the suspects’ hideout location, leading to the fatal shootout. The suspects were linked to multiple violent crimes committed in the Inanda area earlier this month and in June 2024.
Both incidents highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat violent crime in the region and bring perpetrators to justice.
