Bulawayo Robber Shot During Desperate Attempt to Snatch Gun From Police Officer
A 35-year-old suspected armed robber found himself in the hospital after a tense encounter with the police in Bulawayo last Saturday.
James Moyo, the suspect, attempted to disarm a police officer armed with a CZ pistol loaded with six rounds, resulting in him getting shot in the stomach.
Suspected Robber Shot in Bulawayo: Details of the Incident
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday. Assistant Commissioner Nyathi explained that the shooting occurred in Queens Park, Bulawayo, following the arrest of Moyo along with two others, Tinashe Dembure and Mthulisi Maphosa, for a robbery at Gunya Shopping Centre earlier the same day.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms a shooting incident involving a robbery suspect, James Moyo aged 35, which occurred in Queens Park, Bulawayo, on 20 April 2024. The shooting incident follows the arrest of the suspect as well as Tinashe Dembure aged 29 and Mthulisi Maphosa aged 29 for a robbery case which occurred at Gunya Shopping Centre, Mahatshula North, Bulawayo, on April 20, 2024, at around 15:00 hrs,” he said.
According to Nyathi, Moyo dropped his machete upon arrest but then tried to wrestle the loaded CZ pistol from the police officer, forcing the officer to respond by shooting Moyo in the stomach.
“Subsequently, the suspect was shot in the stomach by the police and was referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals for treatment. The Zimbabwe Republic Police reiterates that any form of confrontation with police officers will be met with appropriate response,” he added.
Chinhoyi Farm Shooting
In a separate incident, two security guards, Luckmore Mhiti and Evans Jakarasi, have been arrested for the fatal shooting of an unidentified man at Baguta Farm Compound in Chinhoyi on Saturday.
“The ZRP confirms a shooting incident in which two security guards, Luckmore Mhiti aged 30 and Evans Jakarasi aged 33 shot dead a yet-to-be-identified man at Baguta Farm Compound, Chinhoyi, on April 20, 2024. The victim had tried to attack the security guards with a knife after they had fired warning shots to disperse a crowd which had gathered at the farm to pick leftover maize cobs in the fields,” he said.
The farm owner had hired security guards to protect the farm as he harvested maize using a combine harvester.