A search for three armed robbers has been launched after they escaped during a car chase in Kwadwesi on Wednesday morning.
Chaos erupted at about 9am when the gang of four armed robbers driving a black Toyota Etios sped off from police after firing random shots.
One of the suspects who fled on foot was caught hiding in a nearby shack.
The manhunt for the other suspects is being spearheaded by the newly launched tactical intervention unit who have been targeting crime-ridden hotspots across Nelson Mandela Bay.
The heavily armed team, which comprises the National Intervention Unit (NIU), Tactical Response Team and Public Order Policing Unit, was launched on Saturday as part of a provincial intervention programme.
The team is working with the officials from the Operational Commander Centre (OCC), as well as a detective tracing team from the provincial head office, to track down and arrest the robbers who escaped.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge said the shooting stemmed from a robbery that occurred at about 8am in Boesak Street in the Govan Mbeki locality of Kwadwesi.
“Four men driving a Toyota Etios pulled up next to a spaza shop and robbed a man outside. Three gunmen got out of the car and demanded money, which was handed over to them,” he said.
“The suspects then drove off.”
Police were alerted a short while later and canvassed the area looking for the Etios.
“At about 9am, the suspect vehicle was spotted in one of the main roads, Govan Mbeki Street.
“As the Etios was spotted approaching the police, members jumped out of the vehicle to stop it. The Etios [driver] however slammed on brakes and stopped about 30m away. Two men jumped out the car and randomly started shooting at the police officials,” he said.
“The police did not return fire as there were several bystanders walking around and vehicles passing. It was a judgement call and the decision was made not to engage as it would lead top a fire fight that could injured innocent bystanders.” Beetge said both gunmen jumped back into the car and turned into nearby Goniwe Street.
“As they sped off, one of the men dropped their firearm out of the car.
The chase ensued into Cele Street where one of the suspects jumped out of the Etios and fled between the houses and shacks.
“A search was launched and the firearm was found thrown in a yard while the suspect jumped over various boundary walls,” he said.
“Eventually, the suspect was cordoned and arrested inside a nearby house where he had managed to run into and hide.”
Three other suspects managed to escape by driving off the road, across a field and through an opening in the fence to Uitenhage Road.
“A search is under way to locate them. No police officials or bystanders were injured in the shooting.”
The 25-year-old suspect is due to appear in the New Brighton Magistrate's Court on Friday for illegal possession of a firearm and attempted murder. Additional charges linked to the robbery could be added at a later stage.