Police murder suspect gunned down during shootout

An Eastern Cape man has been killed during a shootout with police near the Mqwangqweni Location.

This incident took place just before 12pm on Wednesday, October 9.

The provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as Hawks), Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the 35-year-old man was alleged to have murdered a police officer.

The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team based in Mthatha along with the Mthatha National Intervention Unit (NIU) were following up on information that led them to the whereabouts of the suspect. The suspect reportedly shot at the officers after seeing their vehicles approached and they hit back.

Mgolodela said on September 30, Warrant Officer Khangelani Wilmot Nomatiti, 59, was on duty at the Ngqeleni Police Station and around 2.05pm left the Community Service Centre (CSC) and proceeded to the local shop on foot to purchase food. En route to the shop, he was allegedly accosted by two suspects who attempted to rob him of his firearm.

“A fight ensued and the Warrant Officer fought his attackers off, however, a third suspect reportedly appeared from behind him and shot Nomatiti in the back of his head. Nomatiti fell on the ground bleeding profusely from the gunshot wound he sustained. The suspects then robbed him of his service pistol and fled the scene on foot in two different directions. The members of the Ngqeleni police station pursued the suspects in vain. Warrant Officer Nomatiti was declared dead on the scene by the paramedics,” Mgolodela said.

She said the Hawks immediately started their investigations and tried tracing the suspects.

“The service pistol that was robbed from Nomatiti was recovered from the deceased suspect with the serial number still intact. The investigations are ongoing and more arrests are imminent,” Mgolodela said.

The head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya lauded the joint efforts of the team and further encouraged them to bring forward the perpetrators who are still at large to face the mighty arm of the law.

-IOL

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