3rd September 2011

Cop shoots motorist

Road rage is a fact of life in congested cities all over South Africa. But yesterday morning a Joburg driver let his anger boil over – and was almost killed as a result.

The 29-year-old Fordsburg man should have thought twice. He became so enraged by the driver of the red Golf who cut him off in peak hour traffic yesterday morning that he wove in and out of traffic to catch up with him – and when he did, he got out of his car, drew his gun and used it to smash two of the Golf’s windows.

But unbeknown to him, it was an unmarked police car with two plainclothes Metro Police officers inside.

The driver drew his service pistol, leapt out of the car and, together with his partner, gave chase.

In a scene reminiscent of an action movie, motorists along Barry Hertzog Drive in Auckland Park were stunned as the drama played out in front of them.

According to a witness, the man stopped at a street corner, out of breath.

The officers called on him to give up and put down his gun. He wouldn’t and taunted the officers, telling them to kill him. The officer who had drawn his gun then shot the man in the leg.

And just like that the man’s bravado turned to remorse.