DURBAN - An alleged robber was taken to hospital following a shooting on Valley View Road in Temple Valley in Verulam on Tuesday.
Prem Balram, spokesperson for the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), said the 18-year-old suspect was shot by an off-duty security officer on Tuesday afternoon.
“RUSA received a call from a passer-by at approximately 18:01pm reporting the shooting. On arrival, Reaction Officers were informed that three suspects accosted a pedestrian and robbed him of his Samsung cellphone and cash. One of the robbers was armed with a large dagger,” he stated.
He said the off-duty security officer, who was making his way to his residence, is said to have witnessed the robbery in progress and shot the teenager in his right thigh.
The suspect’s two accomplices fled.
Balram added that the victim did not sustain injuries and that the suspect was given further medical attention.
“The suspect was transported to hospital by an ambulance in a stable condition,” he stated.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nqobile Gwala said Verulam police responded to the incident.
“On arrival at the scene, an 18-year-old male was lying on the ground with gunshot wound on his right thigh. It is alleged by the complainant that while he was walking on Valley View Road, he was approached by three unknown suspects. At knife point, they robbed him of a cellphone and an undisclosed amount of cash. The complainant shouted for help and a 42-year-old male who was at the scene shot one suspect and the other two managed to flee the scene on foot.”
She said the suspect was taken to hospital for medical attention under police guard.
“Charges of robbery and attempted murder were opened for investigation.”