Suspected armed robber shot dead in Lusaka, AK 47 rifle, ammunition recovered

Police in Lusaka have shot dead one suspected dangerous criminal and recovered an AK 47 rifle with ammunition.

The incident occured on January 27, 2023 around 18:00 hours along Kasangula Road, according to Godfrey Chilabi, Police Assistant Public Relations Officer.

Chilabi explained that acting on a tip-off from an informer that criminals were about to stage a robbery, the Anti-robbery Squad was quickly dispatched to the area.

“Facts of the matter are the Anti-robbery Squad spotted a Toyota Axio,along Kasangula road, matching the description given by the informant .

“The said motor vehicle was parked by the roadside with three suspected criminals standing outside. Upon being challenged by the police, an exchange of fire ensued between the suspected criminals and the police,” he said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday.

Chilabi stated that two criminals managed to jump onto the the Axio Motor Vehicle and sped off while one was hit by a bullet and fell down.

He said that when officers advanced to pick him up, an AK 47 rifle with erased serial number with four rounds of ammunution was recovered.

“He was picked and rushed to University Teaching Hospital for treatment.Unfortuantely, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

“The deceased is believed to have escaped from the recent shooting incident in Kitwe involving a theft of motor vehicle that occurred at Chiwempala Police station,” Chilabi said.

He said the suspected criminal was also believed to have been behind a spate of aggravated robberies that occured between Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces.

“An inquiry file has since been opened while a manhunt has been instituted into the other two who fled. The body of the deceased is in UniversityTeaching Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem,” Chilabi said.