Durban — Four suspects who were killed in a shoot-out with police in Durban on Wednesday were on their way to execute a hit on a man and his bodyguards when officers intercepted their vehicle.

According to police, the suspects were wanted for various violent crimes including cash-in-transit robberies and murders. The fifth suspect was shot and injured.

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a multidisciplinary team comprising the Directorate for Priority Crimes provincial tracking team and the Anti-Gang Unit, as well as Tactical Response Team and Pietermaritzburg K9 Unit, operationalised intelligence about the suspects.

“Police intercepted the suspects on Moses Kotane Road and instructed the suspects’ vehicle to stop.

“The driver defied police instructions and the occupants of the vehicle opened fire towards the police as they sped off,” Netshiunda said.

A shoot-out ensued and the suspects’ vehicle crashed against the wall at the corner of Moses Kotane and Barns Road, he said.

“All four suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds inside the vehicle. The fifth suspect got out of the moving vehicle and was shot and injured. He was found in possession of a firearm and was arrested.”

The number of firearms found inside the vehicle will be confirmed once the search is completed, he said, although police can confirm that one of the firearms found inside the vehicle is a police-issued pistol.

“During their interception, information at the police’s disposal was that the suspects were en route to execute a hit on a man and two of his bodyguards.

“The suspects were also wanted for murders of people mostly involved in the construction industry,” Netshiunda said.

Garrith Jamieson from ALS Paramedics said they responded to a shooting incident between alleged criminals and police.

“Paramedics can confirm that four people have been declared deceased on scene and a fifth one is being attended to by paramedics.”

When the Daily News arrived, the bodies of the deceased suspects were still at the crime scene.

WhatsApp your views on this story to 071 485 7995.

Daily News