On Monday morning at about 10:20 three members of SAPS Elsies River were busy with crime prevention patrols in the area of 34th Avenue and Halt Road in Elnor Estate.

During their patrol they noticed three African men standing on a corner in the area.

The officers in the marked police vehicle made a u-turn and drove slowly past the suspects and proceeded to stop with the intention of searching them.

When these three men realised that they had caught the attention of the patrolling officers, they dispersed before they could be stopped and searched.

One of the suspects boarded a taxi en route to the terminus in Elsies River and another moved across to the corner of Halt Road and 31st Avenue.

The officers then continued their patrol and one of the men walked towards them in 34th Avenue, seeming to be busy changing his top.

When he spotted the patrol vehicle he changed direction by trying to walk over an open field.

At this point the officer who was driving reversed and followed the suspect who saw what was happening and put his hand into the front of his trousers, drawing a firearm and pointed it at the police.

The suspect started running and when the police van stopped, the two other members of the vehicle got out and started chasing him on foot.

One of the officers shouted at the fleeing man warning him to stop and drop his weapon.

The suspect ignored the warning and turned to the police again and once again raised his weapon. At this point one of the officers shot at the suspect who threw down his weapon and continued running.

Officers continued chasing the suspect on foot and the police vehicle drove towards Halt Road to prevent his escape, but the fleeing suspect tripped over a dog and collapsed. He then died of his wounds on the scene.

Police have witheld the name of the deceased until his next-of-kin can be traced and are also still investigating if he was involved in other criminal activity in the area.

The police would also be testing the weapon to see if it has been used in other crimes.

A case of possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, and for pointing a firearm has been opened.