A policeman was gunned down on Thursday night when he and a colleague responded to a domestic violence complaint in Sandton.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, said 33-year-old Constable Percy Ramalepe and his colleague arrived at the house in Hluhluwe Street, at around 10 pm “where they found the suspect, a 60-year-old man, in the driveway of his home.”
He said when they approached, the man appeared to be calm and opened the gate for the members to enter, where they also found the man’s wife, the complainant in the matter.
“Once inside, the suspect without warning produced a shotgun and shot constable Ramalepe,” Naidoo said
He said his colleague grabbed the suspect's wife, took cover and called for back-up.
Naidoo said while he was waiting a second gunshot was heard.
He said the body of the policeman was found lying on the ground outside, while the man was found dead inside the house after he appeared to have shot himself with the policeman’s pistol.
National Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole, conveyed his condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
He also appealed to people who may be victims of gender-based violence or may know someone who is a victim to contact the government's Gender-Based Violence Command Centre hotline which operates 24hrs/7 days a week on – 0800 428 428 or the SAPS Crime Stop Number on 0860010111.
