Wanted man in hospital

THE man accused of disarming a Mpumalanga police officer allegedly shot himself during a break-in and has been admitted to hospital, the SAPS said.

The man, 31, allegedly shot and injured himself after being cornered in a house by the homeowners, Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi said yesterday.

On Sunday, a family found the armed suspect inside their house. While wondering how the suspect gained entry, the suspect reportedly shot himself, Hlati said. “Police were alerted and upon arrival they found him in a pool of blood with the firearm belonging to the police in his hand.”

Police also found ammunition at the scene and observed a broken windowpane, which suggests the suspect might have used it to gain entry.

The man was arrested and emergency medical personnel called in.

“Police realised this was the suspect they were searching for in a murder and robbery on February19. The suspect was also involved in a recent robbery where a firearm was used.

“When the suspect absconded with the police firearm, he was to be questioned about a woman who was stabbed to death in Dullstroom.”

Hlathi said the arrest was a “breakthrough” because in the recent armed robbery a businessman was robbed of cash in Dullstroom on Friday. “The victim closed his tuck shop and took a walk in Dullstroom when a suspect held him hostage at gunpoint and robbed him of his money before fleeing.”