Man shot in highway robbery

07/08/2015. Police comb through a crime scene on Jan Voster drive off ramp in Centurion where a businessman was shot and robbed of an undisclosed amounf of money. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

07/08/2015. Police comb through a crime scene on Jan Voster drive off ramp in Centurion where a businessman was shot and robbed of an undisclosed amounf of money. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Aug 8, 2015

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A man was fighting for his life on Friday night after he was critically wounded when he was shot multiple times during a robbery in Centurion on Friday.

Emer-G-Med spokesman Braam Kruger said the 29-year-old victim, who was identified only as “Gustav”, was shot three times - in the chest, abdomen, and leg.

He was rushed to Unitas Hospital in a critical condition.

Pretoria News understands he underwent emergency surgery on Friday night.

The man was travelling along the N1 south in a white Chrysler and used the off-ramp to John Vorster Drive.

He was forced to stop when a black Range Rover, which had been following him, cut him off.

Three gun-wielding robbers jumped out of the Range Rover and opened fire on the Chrysler, hitting Gustav three times.

His wife, known only as Mondi, was too traumatised to speak.

“I don’t want to talk about what happened, because I am not okay,” she said before hanging up.

Police said it was not clear where he was driving from and where he was going.

The trio proceeded to search the vehicle, and got away with a bag containing an undisclosed amount of money.

They also shot Gustav again.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Dave Miller said they had been alerted to the incident.

They arrested three of four suspects in the Range Rover after a high-speed chase, which ended in Tembisa.

“One of our members got a description of the vehicle and circulated it on the radio.

“Some of the members who were on the ground spotted the vehicle and a chase ensued,” Miller said.

There was a shoot-out during the chase between the police and the robbers but no one was injured, they added.

“During the chase, they lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a wall of a home in Rabie Ridge. They attempted to flee but we had a chopper which was giving cover and was able to keep track of their location.

“Three were arrested while one of the suspects is still at large,” he said.

Police recovered three firearms, and a bag containing an undisclosed amount of money.

Miller said they also discovered that the Range Rover which the robbers were travelling in had been hijacked in Sandton earlier in the week.

He said the three suspects faced charges of attempted murder, robbery, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of stolen property.

He said they would be appearing in court soon.

At the scene of shooting in Centurion, the white Chrysler was parked in the middle of the road, riddled with bullet holes; three in the window on the driver’s side.

Police were combing the scene while the off-ramp was completely shut to peak hour traffic.

A police officer at the scene, who cannot be named as he is not allowed to speak to the media, said an estimated R500 000 in R200 notes was still on the back seat of the car.

But he said this would need to be confirmed after it had been counted.

An eyewitness said his initial thought was that the incident was a result of road-rage, but he soon realised it was a robbery.

Terence Lourens, a tow-truck driver who operates on the corner of John Vorster Drive and the N1, said he was driving behind the two vehicles when the incident unfolded.

“Three men got out of the (Range Rover) Evoque, two with 9mm pistols, the other with an assault rifle, and began shooting at the driver.

“They opened the driver’s door and took the money and a laptop bag and sped off,” Lourens said.

He immediately called emergency services and the police.

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Pretoria News Weekend

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