Homeowner shot and killed in armed robbery tussle

Zim Now Writer

A Beitbridge man was shot twice in the chest following a tussle with a five-men armed robbery gang that had broken into his house in the early hours yesterday.

The armed robbers used iron bars to gain access to all the rooms of the house, while armed with guns, which they also used to break open the main bedroom door where the now deceased was sleeping.

In a statement, national police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, noting that it went down at around 2am, while the robbers got away with cash and cellphones, the now-deceased tried to wrestle the robbers, leading to one of the suspects shooting him in the chest twice.

“I want to assure the public that we are pursuing the suspects and will soon bring all of them to book. The law will take its course,” Ass Comm Nyathi said.

“The suspects forced open the door at the back of the house using iron bars and broke a door leading to the bedroom where the now-deceased’s child was sleeping at around 2am.

“As they left the house, one of the suspects shot the deceased twice after he tried to stand up and fell and died. The man was shot in the chest and abdomen,” Ass Comm Nyathi added.

They took a cellphone from the first complainant and robbed him of US$200.

They then moved to another bedroom and took US$600 and R300 from another complainant.