A gang hitman who tried to shoot a Grassy Park cop is behind bars after his gun jammed and he was caught.
Grassy Park police commander, Colonel Dawood Laing, says the Parkwood skollie, who is a member of the Americans gang, didn’t hesitate to point his gun and pull the trigger when cornered by cops on Thursday morning.
But instead of being shaken by the near death of a colleague, cops are celebrating after nabbing the gemors.
Two members from the Americans gang, arrested after attempting to shoot a cop during a morning patrol in Parkwood. Picture supplied
“The sector manager and his team were doing patrols in Parkwood when they heard shots going off shortly after 6am,” says Laing.
“They went to investigate and caught the 23-year-old man with the 9mm pistol in his hand in Wattle Road.
“As they approached him, he pointed the gun right at them and pulled the trigger.
“But the gun jammed and he could not fire. He didn’t hesitate at all (to shoot at police) but they arrested him.”
Laing says after disarming the skollie, officers arrested another 34-year-old standing nearby after they found him in possession of four rounds of ammunition.
“They were both taken to the station and profiled, and it was found that they are the main shooters working for the American gang boss, Tamatie,” says Laing.
Cops found a stolen gun and 4 rounds of ammunition. Picture supplied
“During investigations it was found that the firearm was reported stolen in Albertinia in 2016.
“So he goes to Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Monday for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and discharging a firearm in a municipal area.”
Cops say the 34-year-old man was sterkgevriet in the cells and refused to provide any information while being profiled, but they found American tjappies on his body and established who he was.
“The second suspect went to court on Friday for illegal possession of ammunition but we don’t have the docket back from court yet so we are not sure if he was given bail,” adds Laing.
He explains there have been sporadic shootings in Parkwood since the gang fight between the Six Bobs from Lotus River and the Americans from Parkwood at Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on 24 July which resulted in the death of Chad Jansen, 21.
Jansen died after being stabbed in the courtroom brawl and several days later, Grassy Park cops arrested Christopher Hukura, 22, after viewing CCTV footage of the fight.
Grassy Park police commander, Colonel Dawood Laing.
He appeared on murder charges last week and the case has been postponed to 6 August.
“It is shocking and upsetting that a gangster will just point his gun and try to shoot a police officer but because the gun didn’t go off, we cannot charge him with attempted murder,” says Laing.