Cape Town – A female police officer was shot dead in a shoot-out with armed robbers near Kraaifontein in Cape Town, Western Cape police said on Friday.

“The tragic incident happened on Thursday around 16:50 after Kraaifontein police received a complaint of a house robbery in progress on a farm on Botfontein Road near Kraaifontein,” said Captain Frederick van Wyk.

“Two SA Police Service members attached to the crime prevention unit responded to the complaint. Near the scene members spotted two suspects fleeing on foot through a graveyard in the Wallacedene informal settlement.”

Van Wyk said that when police confronted the suspects in Old Paarl Road in the direction of the Bloekombos informal settlement, one of them fired several random shots.

Suspects wounded

“Police returned fire, wounding both suspects. One of the suspects sustained four gunshot wounds to his legs and shoulder and was taken to hospital and remains under police guard.”

Van Wyk said the other suspect sustained a gunshot to his stomach but managed to flee and was still at large.

“Sadly during the shoot-out with robbers, 30-year-old female Constable Rozelle Koopman died after being shot in the head. Police managed to recover a 9mm pistol with no serial number, and ammunition rounds.”

He said a search was under way for the remaining suspect.

“We want to send our condolences to the family of our fallen colleague, and express our disgust and anger at the suspect who killed her in cold blood while she was doing her job serving the community, said Western Cape Provincial police commissioner Arno Lamoer.

– SAPA