• Police killed eight suspects during a shootout in a Richards Bay robbery attempt and one of the suspects was of school-going age. 

• The gang is linked to a cash heist and a teacher’s murder and was found with guns and housebreaking tools.

A high school learner was among the eight suspected criminals killed in a shootout with police in Richards Bay on Friday while allegedly planning to rob a foreign-owned shop.

The gang was wanted for several serious crimes including a cash heist and the murder of a teacher in Mzingazi.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said police got a tip-off about the suspects and spotted their car on the John Ross Highway.

“The driver ignored the police’s lawful instructions and sped off. A high-speed vehicle chase ensued and the suspects started firing shots towards the police. Police returned fire and during the shootout, eight suspects were shot and fatally wounded,” said Netshiunda.

Police found three guns, two fake guns and housebreaking tools in the car. They believe the gang was linked to a recent cash-in-transit robbery in Mzingazi.

This brings the number of suspects killed in KwaZulu-Natal police shootouts this week to 10.

On Wednesday, police killed a suspect in Umlazi’s F Section while searching for people wanted for murders and cash-in-transit robberies. Another suspect escaped.

The next day in KwaMashu’s F Section, police shot dead another suspect and arrested two others after chasing a hijacked car from Phoenix.

KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi warned criminals to follow the law.

“If they fight, police don’t hesitate to shoot,” he said.

Pictured above: Some of the items that were found at the scene where eight suspects were killed by police.

Source: SAPS