Man arrested, another still at large

By Nomava Nobumba
21 December 2009

A man is behind bars for armed robbery which occurred in Kenilworth Shopping Centre yesterday.

Police say two men entered a retail store inside the centre demanded the money bag to a female employee which was in her possession at gunpoint.

One of the suspects then fired a shot at the employee, injuring her in the left arm.

He then grabbed the money bag, and fled the store together with the second suspect.

Inspector November Filander says as the suspects exited the centre they fled in different directions.

“One of the suspects who fled in the direction of Garfield Road, was confronted by a Metro police officer, which led to a shoot-out, resulting in the Metro police officer been shot in his left hand. The suspect then managed to rob the police officers of his marked police Opel Corsa” said Filander.

The suspect then drove in the direction of Repulse Road in Athlone where he was further confronted by police and Metro police officers, which led to another shoot-out resulting in the suspect being shot and wounded.

Police managed to apprehend the suspect and recovered a 9mm pistol, a cellular phone and a bag filled with money in his possession.

Initial investigations at the scene also led to the recovery of an abandoned 9mm pistol firearm under a stationery vehicle in the parking lot of the Centre.

“At this stage we believe that it could have been thrown under the vehicle by the second suspect, whilst in the process of fleeing from the scene” he said.

Police manage to arrest one of the suspects while the second one is still at large.

Investigations are continuing.