19-year-old caught after he went on a two-day SHOOTING spree

Police found the teenager behind the shootings hiding in a water slope 20 kilometres from Cradock after a serious manhunt.

Sep 11, 2022 - 13:26
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19-year-old caught after he went on a two-day SHOOTING spree

The South African Police Service managed to nab a teenager who was on two-day shooting spree in Cradock, Eastern Cape.

POLICE RESPOND TO TWO SHOOTING INCIDENTS

The police first responded to a complaint of a murder at a farm outside Cradock on Wednesday at around noon.

They found the body of Eva Smit, 39, with a gunshot wound to the upper body. This led to a 72-hour activation plan to hunt and catch her killer, spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said.

But the following day, on Thursday evening, police received yet another complaint. This time it was of a shooting on the N10 highway towards Middelburg, said Nkohli.

“At the scene, a truck driver sustained several gunshot wounds in the upper body and was rushed to hospital.”

Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli

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19-YEAR-OLD FOUND TO BE BEHIND THE CRIMES

Police followed up on some leads and conducted preliminary investigations. These revealed that the suspect involved in the shooting of the truck driver and the killing of Eva Smit is the same person.

“The search was intensified and expanded to cover a vast area, from various South African Police Service units with the assistance from community groups. Private security companies volunteered their services and worked around the clock,” said Nkohli.

But the 19-year-old was cornered on Friday. The tracing and tracking teams including police tracker dogs apprehended the young man. He was found in a water slope about 20 kilometres outside Cradock.

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Police arrested the suspect after he was found hiding in a water slope just outside Cradock. PHOTO: Flickr/Wolfkann

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“Police also recovered a firearm, and a truck’s key in his possession.”

The suspect is to appear in the Cradock Magistrate’s Court on Monday. He faces charges of murder, attempted murder, possession of stolen firearm and ammunition and an additional charge of theft.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheli Mene welcomed the arrest and praised those dedicated to arresting the suspect.

“Your efforts surely saved lives which could have been lost during a frenzy shooting spree,” Mene said.