A murder suspect was shot twice in the buttocks after giving police a run for their money in Parkridge on Friday afternoon.
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said the incident occurred at 12 noon.
“We can confirm that a 27-year-old suspect is currently recovering in a public hospital in East London after being shot in the buttocks by members of the police,” Marais said yesterday.
He said the suspect was only shot when he allegedly drew his firearm and pointed it at the officers.
He was shot while exiting from a toilet where he had earlier hidden while fleeing from the police. The toilet was behind a house in Parkridge.
Earlier on members of the East London tactical response team (TRT) had been summoned by Buffalo Flats police detectives to assist them in tracing suspects wanted in connection with murder.
Marais said the murder took place on March 22, when a 52-year-old unidentified male was robbed of his cellphone before being shot to death in Windyridge Road, near Parkside.
“On Friday TRT members went to search for the suspects armed with arrest warrants and pictures of the suspects. They raided a house outside Windyridge Road where four suspects were based.
“Upon seeing the police the suspects fled in different directions and the police gave chase,” Marais said.
“One of the suspects ran to the back of the house and when he was cornered he withdrew a firearm.
“Police warned him to drop the firearm and when he failed they opened fire before he could shoot at them,” said Marais.
He said the man was then arrested and rushed to hospital.
Two other suspects were arrested while a fourth got away.
The two arrested men, who police identified as Eric Cocklyn and Zukisa Batwini, made a brief appearance in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
They were charged with house robbery.
“They are still in custody pending further investigation,” said Marais.
He said the suspect in hospital was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and pointing a firearm.
He said the firearm was stolen from a private security guard during a house robbery in Windyridge Road on March 20.
“We have sent it for ballistic testing in Port Elizabeth to try and establish if the firearm has been used in any other crime,” Marais said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Suspect shot in buttocks fleeing police
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais said the incident occurred at 12 noon.
“We can confirm that a 27-year-old suspect is currently recovering in a public hospital in East London after being shot in the buttocks by members of the police,” Marais said yesterday.
He said the suspect was only shot when he allegedly drew his firearm and pointed it at the officers.
He was shot while exiting from a toilet where he had earlier hidden while fleeing from the police. The toilet was behind a house in Parkridge.
Earlier on members of the East London tactical response team (TRT) had been summoned by Buffalo Flats police detectives to assist them in tracing suspects wanted in connection with murder.
Marais said the murder took place on March 22, when a 52-year-old unidentified male was robbed of his cellphone before being shot to death in Windyridge Road, near Parkside.
“On Friday TRT members went to search for the suspects armed with arrest warrants and pictures of the suspects. They raided a house outside Windyridge Road where four suspects were based.
“Upon seeing the police the suspects fled in different directions and the police gave chase,” Marais said.
“One of the suspects ran to the back of the house and when he was cornered he withdrew a firearm.
“Police warned him to drop the firearm and when he failed they opened fire before he could shoot at them,” said Marais.
He said the man was then arrested and rushed to hospital.
Two other suspects were arrested while a fourth got away.
The two arrested men, who police identified as Eric Cocklyn and Zukisa Batwini, made a brief appearance in the East London Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
They were charged with house robbery.
“They are still in custody pending further investigation,” said Marais.
He said the suspect in hospital was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and pointing a firearm.
He said the firearm was stolen from a private security guard during a house robbery in Windyridge Road on March 20.
“We have sent it for ballistic testing in Port Elizabeth to try and establish if the firearm has been used in any other crime,” Marais said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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