Durban - Three armed suspects who robbed pupils or their belongings and shot a teacher in the face at a Sea Cow Lake school on Friday were arrested only hours after the incident.
Marshall Security managing director Tyron Powell said that at approximately 2.35pm, the Marshall Security Emergency Dispatch Centre was alerted to a shooting incident at the Sea Cow Lake Secondary School on Gumtree Road in the Sea Cow Lake area.
Multiple armed response officers and Special Operation Team members were dispatched and arrived on the scene a short while later, Powell said.
“It was later established that three armed suspects had entered the school premises while the fourth suspect was the getaway driver. The suspects proceeded to hold up the deputy principal of the schooland stole various items, including a handbag,” Powell said.
“The suspects made their way to a classroom where they robbed school children of their belongings, who were attending extra classes to improve their grades. A teacher witnessed the robbery and intervened. A scuffle ensued, during which the suspects fired one shot at the teacher’s face. The suspects then fled and jumped into their getaway vehicle and fled the scene. The injured teacher was then rushed to a hospital, and is confirmed to be in a stable condition at present.”
Powell said that while viewing CCTV footage, it was established that the suspects were using a silver Datsun Go Plus with GP number plates to commit the robbery, along with various other distinguishing markings noticed on the vehicle.
A detailed description of the wanted vehicle was circulated to all Marshall Security’s armed response officers and Special Operation Teams to be on the lookout for, Powell said.
He said that later that in the evening at approximately 8.55pm, a vehicle matching the full description was spotted on Whetstone Drive in the Phoenix area, where it was immediately stopped by members of our Special Operations Team together with the assistance of the Phoenix Trio Crimes unit. Three occupants of the vehicle were immediately questioned.
“Upon searching the vehicle, the number plates used in the robbery along with other evidence including the deputy principal’s handbag were found in the vehicle,” Powell said.
He said all three suspects were immediately arrested and transported to the Phoenix police station for further investigation and processing.
“Further questioning of the suspects led to them admitting to the robbery, and it was discovered that two of the three suspects had attended the same school that they had robbed. SAPS are on a manhunt for the fourth suspect, who remains at large,” Powell said.
He said that the suspects would be charged with attempted murder and business robbery.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said charges of robbery and attempted murder were being investigated by Greenwood Park SAPS.
“It is alleged by the complainant that they were robbed and shot in the Kenville area at 2.30pm by three suspects. Who then fled the scene. Later that day the three suspects aged 26 and 27 were arrested in Phoenix for attempted murder and robbery,” Gwala said.
She said the suspects would appear before the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Daily News