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Previous victim IDs hijacker
14/12/2007 08:09 - (SA)
Francois du Plessis, Beeld
Johannesburg - An intended hijack victim recognised two men who were shot on Thursday while trying to steal a vehicle in Midrand, as those who had tried to snatch his car three weeks ago.
A member of the public shot and killed one attacker and seriously injured his accomplice when they tried to hijack a luxury BMW in Old Pretoria Road at about 10:00 on Thursday.
The man did not want his identity disclosed.
According to Superintendent Eugene Opperman, the man had acted in self defence after the armed attackers opened fire on him.
"He returned fire with his own licensed firearm, killing the one suspect, while the other one was seriously wounded in the exchange," said Opperman.
Recognised body-bag man
Doug McGibbon, 46, heard about the shooting and went to Old Pretoria Road because he suspected the two robbers might be the ones who tried to hijack his BMW at his home on November 22.
McGibbon told Beeld newspaper: "I explained the situation to the guys and, when I looked in the body bag, it was the same man who had pointed his firearm at me three weeks before."
He said the man who was seriously wounded in Thursday's gun battle, had been the accomplice three weeks previously.
McGibbon said: "I recall it clearly. They jumped out of a white VW Polo while I was waiting for the security gate to close behind me when we arrived home that afternoon."
His wife, her sister and his brother-in-law, who were on a visit from Britain, were in the car with him.
"The one (who was shot dead on Thursday) lifted up his shirt and pulled a 9mm pistol from his pants. His hand was shaking and I just hoped he wouldn't pull the trigger by mistake. We stared into each other's eyes."
The other hijacker jumped into the BMW, but they couldn't get away because the security gate, which they had derailed earlier, was blocking their way out.
McGibbon said his wife, who had fallen flat next to the swimming pool, started screaming for help.
"I looked back over my shoulder and told her everything was OK and she should be quiet, when the hijackers suddenly jumped into their car and sped off. A friend chased them, but they got away.
Congratulations for 'crack shooting'
McGibbon added: "I congratulated the guy who got them on Thursday, for his crack shooting."
Opperman said the wounded man was being treated in hospital under police guard.
Police were investigating a case of armed robbery and attempted murder after Thursday's shooting.
A police reservist, Captain Marc Ishlove, shot and killed two hijackers who were trying to steal a luxury Porsche at Fir Drive Centre in Northcliff last month.
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