ALL Hell broke loose along Zambezi Road Friday as bystanders scampered in seven directions for their lives while police escorted four criminals to meet their ancestors in Lusaka’s Foxdale area.
The Lusaka Division Scorpion Team of the Zambia police service were yesterday morning turned into a fast and furious cast, in hot pursuit of four criminals involved in a series of motor vehicle related crimes within Lusaka.
Following increased reports of motor vehicle break-ins at shopping malls across Lusaka, police carried out a patrolling exercise at Foxdale Court mall between 11:00hrs and 12:30hrs
A suspicious purple Toyota Ractis carrying four men caught the attention of the police, not because it was the colour of royalty but because it had double number plates with registration number AJE 2806 covering the original one.
The police swooped in to investigate but the driver suddenly felt anointed by Vin Diesel’s unbeaten race track record and stepped on the gas pedal, with screeching tire, maneuvered there away out of the place.
“Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the occupants evaded the police. During the chase, another white Mark X, with an unknown number plate, sped away. The Scorpion Team prioritized pursuing the purple Ractis.” Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said.
Hamoonga stated that while the chase continued along Zambezi road, police fired several warning shots at the vehicle causing the suspects to stop in the near by Ngwerere farms and opted to run on foot.
As the confrontation escalated near Ngwerere farms, the country’s most valued mineral came alive,taking down the assailants one by one.
“In the ensuing confrontation, four criminals were shot, and one, identified as Gift Musonda of Matero, a notorious individual on the list of most wanted criminals for offenses including Aggravated Robbery, theft from Motor Vehicles, and theft from persons, was among the fatally wounded,” Hamoonga added.
The identities of the other three deceased individuals, estimated to be aged between 20 and 30, are yet to be determined.
The injured criminals were immediately transported to the University Teaching Hospital, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival.
The police managed to uncover various items including, a green backpack with a pair of number plates (AFB 3281) ,2 empty bottles of Benylin and a packet of disposable medical face masks in the assailants vehicle.
Other items included a sachet of suspected marijuana, 2 screwdrivers, a broken car key, a black toy pistol, 2 metal T-bars, an iron bar and One industrial cutter.
By Elesani Phiri
Kalemba March 9, 2024
