Pandemonium erupted at the East London Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning after a man was shot and killed while trying to escape custody.
When DispatchLIVE arrived at the courthouse paramedics were still on the scene.
An eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the prisoner had been appearing in court for a 2018 attempted escape case. He was on a witness stand when he pulled out a knife and charged towards a state prosecutor.
According to an eye witness, the deceased prisoner was appearing in court for a 2018 attempted escape case. He was on a witness stand, the source said, when he pulled out a knife and charged towards a state prosecutor.
There were screams and the prosecutor tried to hide behind a table when the deceased allegedly grabbed a court access card from a cleck and tried to escape via a private entrance at C-court.
Two prison warders who had accompanied the deceased and who were seated outside court, heard screams and rushed inside to find the prisoner trying to escape. As they approached, he brandished his knife, forcing them to fire two shots towards his upper body, shots which proved fatal.
No one was stabbed during the dramatic incident as earlier reported.
DispatchLIVE
UPDATED | Man shot dead during foiled prisoner escape attempt at East London Magistrate's Court
Image: SINO MAJANGAZA
Pandemonium erupted at the East London Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning after a man was shot and killed while trying to escape custody.
When DispatchLIVE arrived at the courthouse paramedics were still on the scene.
An eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the prisoner had been appearing in court for a 2018 attempted escape case. He was on a witness stand when he pulled out a knife and charged towards a state prosecutor.
According to an eye witness, the deceased prisoner was appearing in court for a 2018 attempted escape case. He was on a witness stand, the source said, when he pulled out a knife and charged towards a state prosecutor.
There were screams and the prosecutor tried to hide behind a table when the deceased allegedly grabbed a court access card from a cleck and tried to escape via a private entrance at C-court.
Two prison warders who had accompanied the deceased and who were seated outside court, heard screams and rushed inside to find the prisoner trying to escape. As they approached, he brandished his knife, forcing them to fire two shots towards his upper body, shots which proved fatal.
No one was stabbed during the dramatic incident as earlier reported.
DispatchLIVE
WATCH | Gunshots and hostage drama in East London suburb
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos