Guns, ammunition seized as 11 arrested for attempted murder in Ekurhuleni

Police arrested eleven suspects and recovered over 160 assorted rounds of ammunition and six unlicensed firearms following the murder and two attempted murders in Ekurhuleni on Sunday. 

According to the police's Captain Mavela Masondo, it is alleged that a gang of armed men shot at four men who were standing next to a Toyota Conquest in Katlehong, Emlotheni Informal Settlement on Sunday. 

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"One of the victims died at the scene, two were taken to hospital in a serious condition and the fourth victim managed to run away," said Masondo. 

According to Masondo, an Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Officer who saw the suspects fleeing from the scene gave chase and apprehended one of the suspects. More police officers responded and the second suspect was spotted. The suspect started shooting at the police as they were approaching him and police returned fire. He was wounded and taken to hospital under police guard and an unlicensed firearm was recovered.

The search for the remaining suspects led the police to Nguni Hostel in Vosloorus on Monday.  "Nine hostel dwellers were found in one of the rooms. Upon searching the suspects and the room, police found 5 unlicensed firearms and over one hundred and sixty live ammunition of AK47, shotgun, Torus 9mm, and revolvers," said Masondo.

The suspects were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. An investigation is underway to establish if these suspects can be linked to other serious and violent crimes, including the recent murders at the hostels in Ekurhuleni. The firearms will also be sent for ballistic tests to determine if they were used in the commission of other crimes.