Suspect arrested in cop killing

A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a police officer and the attempted murder of another officer in Sunnyside in Pretoria, Gauteng police said.

The SAPS Gauteng management applauded the swift arrest of a suspect implicated in the killing of a 34-year-old Sunnyside constable on Friday, said Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.

“The Sunnyside trio task team followed up on information and traced the 21-year-old suspect to a student residence in Sunnyside, where the suspect was arrested on Saturday afternoon, less than 24-hours after the incident.”

The suspect had been charged with murder and attempted murder and would appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court today, Peters said.

Gauteng police commissioner LieutenantGeneral Deliwe de Lange thanked everyone involved, especially witnesses who played a crucial role in ensuring the swift arrest.

“We hope that this will assist the family towards reconciling with the loss of their loved one, while we allow the law to take its course,” De Lange said.

The 41-year-old constable who survived the Friday attack was recovering well in hospital, Peters said.

The two police officers were attacked at the corner of Leyds and Esselen streets in Sunnyside, Pretoria, just after 11pm on Friday, while they were conducting stop-and-search duties in the area.

The 34-year-old male constable died of his wounds while being taken to the hospital.