The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has issued a formal correction after initially linking a suspect arrested in Lenasia South to the recent fatal gang shootings in Westbury.
The clarification comes after the JMPD Tactical Response Unit (TRU) arrested the suspect in Lenasia South on Tuesday, August 18. An earlier statement released by the department suggested that the individual was connected to the deadly shootings in Westbury.
However, following further verification and preliminary investigative work by law enforcement, authorities established that the suspect was not linked to the Westbury incidents. The department said the initial connection was based on preliminary information and was later confirmed to be a case of mistaken identity in relation to the shootings.
While the JMPD has withdrawn the alleged Westbury link, it stressed that the arrest itself remains valid due to the firearm-related offences allegedly uncovered during the operation.
According to the department, the suspect remains in custody at the Lenasia South SAPS station and faces charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms and prohibited weapons.
Among the weapons allegedly seized at the scene were an illegal revolver with a defaced serial number and a submachine gun. The firearms will form part of the investigation into the charges against the suspect.
“The JMPD regrets the initial misattribution regarding the Westbury investigation and remains committed to providing accurate information to the public while pursuing those responsible for the violence in Westbury,” the department said.
The correction separates the Lenasia South arrest from the ongoing investigation into the fatal Westbury gang shootings, while the firearm-related case against the suspect continues.
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