Two police constables and a suspect are recovering in hospital after a shootout at a Mpumalanga tavern at the weekend
Constable Godfrey Mashigo, 34, and Reservist Constable Enoch Mhlongo, 28, were looking for a man wanted in connection with murder when they received a tip-off that he was partying at a tavern in Pienaar.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Leonard Hlathi said when Mhlongo and Mashigo arrived at the tavern they found two patrons involved in a gun battle.
He said other patrons warned the two gunmen about the presence of the police.
"Suddenly, one of them turned his gun on the police, hitting Mhlongo in the stomach and Mashigo in the arm. After Mhlongo had collapsed, the gunman got on top of him and tried to throttle him but Mashigo fired a shot, wounding him in the leg," Hlathi said.
The 32-year-old man and the two cops were taken to hospital.
Mhlongo's condition was described as serious.
Hlathi said police confiscated a 9mm gun with its serial numbers filed off.
The other gunman disappeared from the scene.
Hlathi said they were going to check if the wounded gunman, "who uses different names, was not involved in other cases".
The police spokesperson also said the actual murder suspect they were looking for was still at large.
2 cops, suspect hurt in shootout
Two police constables and a suspect are recovering in hospital after a shootout at a Mpumalanga tavern at the weekend
Constable Godfrey Mashigo, 34, and Reservist Constable Enoch Mhlongo, 28, were looking for a man wanted in connection with murder when they received a tip-off that he was partying at a tavern in Pienaar.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Leonard Hlathi said when Mhlongo and Mashigo arrived at the tavern they found two patrons involved in a gun battle.
He said other patrons warned the two gunmen about the presence of the police.
"Suddenly, one of them turned his gun on the police, hitting Mhlongo in the stomach and Mashigo in the arm. After Mhlongo had collapsed, the gunman got on top of him and tried to throttle him but Mashigo fired a shot, wounding him in the leg," Hlathi said.
The 32-year-old man and the two cops were taken to hospital.
Mhlongo's condition was described as serious.
Hlathi said police confiscated a 9mm gun with its serial numbers filed off.
The other gunman disappeared from the scene.
Hlathi said they were going to check if the wounded gunman, "who uses different names, was not involved in other cases".
The police spokesperson also said the actual murder suspect they were looking for was still at large.
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