Missing weapons from gun dealer used in shooting
One of the 169 guns missing from a Port Elizabeth gun dealer was used to rob and shoot two people in Uitenhage’s main road this week.
The revolver, which has not been reported stolen, was recovered after a foot chase by police on Thursday.
And in a separate incident, a 14-year-old was arrested in Bethelsdorp in connection with a stolen firearm.
A total of 10 firearms have been recovered in the Bethelsdorp and Gelvandale areas since Thursday last week.
Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said in the Uitenhage incident the gun was recovered after it was used to shoot two people who were attacked by two men while walking in Caledon Street at about 5.30pm on Thursday.
“The two [victims] ran into a nearby shop and the suspects opened fire on them. Both victims were injured.
“An off-duty policeman saw the commotion and chased the gunmen. The men ran into Kamal Lane, where they threw the firearm on the ground and ran off in different directions.”
The firearms belong to East Cape Gun Traders, a gun shop owned by Anthony Lombard, 79, which is run from his house in Charlo.
Lombard is under investigation after police found 169 guns missing from the store’s vault.
In January, police shut the shop down and confiscated 359 guns belonging to the company and private owners who had booked their weapons in.
The discovery of the missing guns was made after 18 were found in a bag following a shootout between police and gangsters in January.
Of the 18 guns, 11 were registered to the company while others were private firearms placed in the care of the shop.
None were reported stolen or missing.
Despite this, Lombard claims the guns were stolen.
Another two firearms were recovered in Port Elizabeth on Thursday and the 14-year-old and a 19-year-old arrested.
In the first incident, Bethelsdorp police spotted two suspected gang members in Sweden Street, Timothy Valley.
“Both males were searched and a black revolver and ammunition were found in the pants pocket of the 19-yearold,” Naidu said.
The identification serial number had been removed.
Not long after, police in Burke Street, Bethelsdorp, spotted a young teen running in the street before he allegedly tossed a .38 revolver into a yard.
“The 14-year-old teenager was arrested and detained at a juvenile facility,” she said.
The firearm was reported stolen in Beacon Bay, East London, in December 2018.
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