Cops kill suspect armed with toy gun

(Article by Lesego Masemola at www.iol.co.za)

Police are trying to locate the family of a suspected house robber who was armed with a toy gun and killed while trying to run away from the police at the weekend.

The suspect is believed to be in his early twenties and it is thought that he is from Mamelodi.

Police have also launched a search for his two accomplices who escaped during a high speed chase in a stolen car on Sunday evening.

The black Audi A4 was stolen during a housebreaking in Kilnerpark in the morning and members of the Villieria SAPS spotted the car around 9pm.

Inspector Klaas van der Kooi said a high-speed chase ensued.

Members of the Pretoria Flying squad were contacted to join the chase and spotted the car in East Lynne

“Members of the flying squad took over after spotting the car in East Lynne and chased it for 10 minutes to the Derdepoort area where the suspects abandoned the car and fled on foot,” he said.

Shots were fired by the police and one of the suspects was hit on the upper body and died on the spot while his two accomplices escaped.

Police seized a toy gun, stolen items and vehicle taken in the house robbery.

The name of the deceased will only be announced after his family has been notified.

Van der Kooi said the case was still under investigation and police expect to make more arrests.

Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Grade 12 pupil from Waverley has been arrested on a charge of defeating the ends of justice, after he reported a false complaint of house robbery.

On Tuesday, the pupil appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court and was released on warning while the court postponed his case to December 12.

Van der Kooi said the pupil claimed that he had gone home to fetch books when he was approached by two males who threatened him with knives and forced him into his parent’s double cab LDV.

The suspect said he overpowered one of the robbers, stabbing him, and they then stopped the vehicle and fled on foot.

“Several specialised units investigated the scene.

“The pupil had several cut wounds when the SAPS arrived at the scene and he acted like he was shocked.

“However, after several of the clues on the scene did not add up he was arrested,” he said.

Van der Kooi said it was suspected that the pupil took his parents’ vehicle without their knowledge and damaged it.

After stopping at the school he could not start the vehicle and he made up the story after he realised that he was going to be in trouble.

“The SAPS would like to warn members of the public who lay false charges that they will be prosecuted and will have to deal with the course of justice,” said Van der Kooi.

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