One suspected armed robber was killed and another two injured during a car chase and shoot-out with police on Saturday morning.
The shoot-out stemmed from an armed robbery of a supermarket store in End Street in Khayamnandi in Despatch earlier in the day.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said that the incident led to a car and foot chase which resulted in one suspected robber being killed, another two injured, and one escaping.
“According to police information, at about 10.20am on Saturday, three suspects entered a shop in Despatch. One of the suspects was armed with a firearm and held staff at gunpoint while the other suspects helped themselves to groceries, meat and a small amount of money. On exiting the shop, one shot was fired by a suspect. However, no one was injured,” she said.
“The suspects escaped in a getaway car driven by a fourth suspect but witnesses managed to get the vehicle’s registration number. This was immediately relayed to police who then circulated the vehicle to all police members in surrounding areas.”
By 10.45am, Port Elizabeth Flying Squad police members spotted the getaway car, a green Mazda, at the corners of Nooitgedacht and Old Uitenhage roads in Bethelsdorp.
Naidu said that attempts to pull the vehicle off the road failed and the suspects started shooting at the police who were in pursuit.
“Police returned fire during the car chase at which time all four suspects jumped out of the moving Mazda. Three of the suspects fled in the same direction while the fourth fled in the opposite direction. The abandoned vehicle came to a stop after colliding into a stationary Corsa sedan vehicle which had stopped in the road.”
Naidu said that a foot chase ensued and the suspects continued to shoot at police while fleeing between nearby shacks.
“The 31-year-old fell a few yards away while trying to flee. He sustained a gunshot wound to his head. A gas pistol was recovered on the scene near the deceased body,” she said.
During the chase, Flying Squad called for backup leading to the several Motherwell Cluster Operational Command Centre police responding to the call for help. “The chase continued and two of the suspects were found nearby with gunshot wounds.”
“A 31-year-old suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg while the 25-year-old suspect sustained a gunshot wound to his chest and arm.”
The fourth suspect managed to evade arrest despite a lengthy search of the surrounding area.
Naidu said that a search of the car led police to finding a stolen 9mm pistol and some of the stolen goods from the shop. The vehicle was not reported as stolen and police are still determining if the vehicle belonged to one of the suspects.
Naidu said that the search for the missing robber was still  under way. The men live in the New Brighton and Motherwell areas in the Bay.
Mount Road Cluster Commander Major General Thembisile Patekile added: “Criminals need to know that we are on their heels and will find them wherever they may escape,” he said.
The men will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court once they have been discharged from hospital, where they are under police guard.
They face charges of attempted murder for shooting at the police, possession of suspected stolen property and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.