A 26-year-old Johannesburg police officer was killed and another was shot in the eye during a routine stop-and-search operation in Hillbrow on Wednesday night
The officers had begun their 6pm shifts and were on patrol in the city when they noticed a suspicious car at the corner of King George and Wolmarans streets.
According to reports, the officers approached the car with its three occupants to search the vehicle. One of the occupants allegedly refused to cooperate with the officers’ requests, and acted aggressively.
“The constable tried to calm him down but one of the other two suspects pulled out a firearm and shot the member in his right eye,” said lieutenant-colonel Katleho Mogale.
The suspect fired a second shot at the other officer, fatally wounding him. The injured officer was rushed to hospital for treatment.
Constable Nkosinathi Mgimeti said at least two people were arrested for the possession of an unlicensed firearm in the Hillbrow cluster area between August 7 and August 13.
Mogale urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS anonymously to the Crimeline 32211.
