Three (3) criminals killed, two (2) victims injured during robbery

BLACKBURN – Three (3) suspects were killed and two (2) victims were injured following a business robbery in Blackburn Tuesday afternoon.

Reaction Unit South Africa received multiple calls regarding a shootout in progress at a General Dealer. Reaction Officers were immediately dispatched and established that the incident consisted of four scenes.

Officers discovered the body of a man next to a river. He sustained gunshot wounds and blunt force trauma to his body and head. It was established that he was a suspect in the robbery that occurred approximately two hundred meters away. He was shot by the victim and collapsed in the yard. Members of the community dragged him to the river where they assaulted him. They placed a tyre over his head and attempted to set it alight.

While attending to the initial scene, Reaction Officers were advised that two (2) victims were shot in the nearby vicinity. RUSA Paramedics located a residence situated in the same yard as the General Dealer. It was established that the homeowner was confronted by five (5) robbers as they exited the store. The suspects opened fire at him and his family. The man drew his 9mm CZ 75 pistol and returned fire. One suspect was shot but was dragged from the yard and killed by the community next to a river. CCTV footage (posted in comments) showed his accomplices searching him and fleeing with his firearm prior to the mob arriving.

The 41 year old victim was shot in the chest & right thigh and his 33 year old cousin was shot in the buttocks & leg. The 21 year old General Dealer sustained blunt force trauma to his head after he was pistol whipped. The injured were stabilised on scene before being expedited to hospital by ambulance.

Members of the community pursued the remaining suspects on foot. They discovered that one of the robbers had surrendered after being confronted by a Private Security Officer. The Officer managed to recover a 9mm pistol from the suspect before the community beat him to death.

A third suspect fleeing from the scene opened fire on a Fidelity ADT Special Intervention Unit Officer outside Cornubia Mall in Cornubia. The Officer disembarked from his vehicle and returned fire. The suspect was shot multiple times and died at the scene. Two firearms were recovered in his possession. The Officers Toyota Hilux bakkie was shot but he did not sustain any injuries.
Two (2) suspects allegedly fled in a silver Toyota Corolla and remain at large.