Young robbery suspects shot, one dies

TWO youngsters, allegedly part of a four-man gang who tried to rob a taxi driver over the weekend, are still on the run after one of their accomplices was killed and another wounded.

By yesterday none of them had been identified.The incident happened at around 04h30 in Sukkot Street in the Dolam area of Katutura on Saturday.According to Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, a Police spokesperson, the four youths ‘allegedly boarded a taxi to town and promised to pay N$100’.When the driver requested payment upfront, one of the suspects allegedly drew and cocked a pistol.The armed driver also grabbed his pistol, after which an altercation ensued. ‘One suspect allegedly grabbed the taxi driver by the neck and they wrestled. A shot went off and smashed the windscreen [and] another shot went off and struck one of the suspects in the neck,’ Shikwambi said yesterday.The other three jumped out of the vehicle, but one was shot in his back.It is understood that their pistol was not loaded with ammunition.Both injured youths were rushed to the Katutura State Hospital where the one who was wounded in the neck was declared dead upon arrival.The other one is still being treated under Police guard at the hospital.Although charges of murder and attempted murder are being investigated against the taxi driver, he is not in custody.Shikwambi confirmed that he opened a case of attempted robbery against the four youngsters.The body of the deceased has not been identified, she added.Shikwambi warned taxi drivers to be on the alert.’There is a group of men pretending to be in need of transport, especially at night. They however have intentions of robbing taxi drivers. Lives are lost; people are injured; property is damaged and people are charged with unnecessary cases because of the others’ evil doings and criminal minds. This is a new year and we should be fighting crime, not contributing to crime.’