An off-duty police officer has allegedly shot and killed two men who were trying to hijack his family.
The cop, his wife and two kids were driving on Bristol Road in Philippi on Sunday afternoon when four suspects started stoning his grey Audi A3.
In the ensuing shootout, the cop was also shot and as the suspects were declared dead at the scene, the police officer was rushed to hospital with a bullet wound.
A witness says she couldn’t believe what she saw unfold as she was standing near the road where the incident took place.
“The police officer took out his gun and just fired bullets at the would be hijackers,” the witness says.
“One of them died by the car wash, while the other died in the ambulance.
“There were four suspects who were trying to take the car so the other two ran away when the officer shot at them.”
The vrou explains that the skollies attacked the victims by stoning the car before they took out guns as if they wanted to bring the car to a halt.
But the officer continued to drive and that is when they pulled out guns and started shooting.
“The police officer was with his wife and two children, so he withdrew his gun and shot back.
“He was injured during the shootout.”
Residents on the scene applauded the police officer for his bravery.
One resident said: “People work hard for their cars and then you find skollies like this trying to steal cars.
“You live by the gun and that is how you go.
“And who was supposed to die here, the law-abiding officer or hijackers?
“He did great, he should not be arrested and he was also shot, by the way, so this is an open and shut case.
“The man was trying to protect his family. Well done for his bravery.”
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut confirms: “On Sunday at 1.30pm, an off-duty police officer and his family were approached by four armed suspects in an attempt to hijack his vehicle in Bristol Road, Brown’s Farm.
“Shots were exchanged and in the process, the police officer was wounded and two of the suspects sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
“The other two managed to escape.”