Residents of Alexandria were woken up by loud gunshots in their area on Sunday 19 January as hijackers and police exchanged shots.
Residents of Alexandria were woken up by loud gunshots in their area on Sunday 19 January as hijackers and police exchanged shots.
Resident John Ferreira said the whole neighbourhood was woken up by the gunshots causing residents to come onto the street to see.
"I'm sure the whole town heard the shooting! It was quite a bit of action for our peaceful town," he said.
Ferreira said the hijacking took place in the early hours of Sunday morning at about 2am.
He added that the shooting started opposite his property on the Salem road before the Chicory factory after the hijackers abandoned the stolen vehicle before entering Alexandria.
"They fled on foot cutting across the golf course and through residents' property and eventually the shooting started opposite my property," he said.
Four men face attempted murder and hijacking charges following Sunday's shoot-out.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said members of the Alexandria SAPS received a tip-off about a vehicle that had been possibly hijacked in Paterson in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Toyota Tazz was being followed by an off-duty police officer stationed at the Port Alfred Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).
Govender said local police were on high alert as the vehicle approached Alexandria.
Three on-duty Constables tried to stop the vehicle which was carrying five male occupants who allegedly started shooting at them.
"The members returned fire, injuring one," she said.
The suspect was arrested and is currently under police guard in hospital.
Shortly thereafter, three more suspects were arrested on the R72 by a team consisting of the off duty police officer, members of the Alexandria SAPS, and a member of the Port Alfred K9 Unit.
"A pistol with six live rounds of ammunition was seized and the vehicle was also recovered," Govender said.
The suspects aged between 27 and 36 face charges of hijacking, possession of suspected stolen motor vehicle and attempted murder.
They appeared in court this week.
