A police firearm jammed during a shootout as police tried to intercept Jaison Muvhevhi who went on a killing spree in Hwedza (Wedza) on Friday gunning down a self-styled prophet, a police officer and another victim.
Muvhevhi who is still on the run and described by the police as “armed and dangerous” also shot and injured another police officer, CITE reported.
He killed a church leader of the Masowe sect at a church gathering in the Mukamba area in Wedza on Friday afternoon.
A team of police officers led by Officer In Charge of Wedza police station Inspector Maxwell Hove who comes from Mberengwa reacted to the incident. Said police sources:
When the station reaction team reached Matsine area they intercepted the armed man who had parked his motor vehicle and was outside the motor vehicle. The police approached him and when he that it was the police he pulled out a pistol from his waist and fired some shots and there was an exchange of fire between police and the armed man.
During the shooting incident, the police firearm jammed and the armed man continued firing at the police officers and during this stampede of trying to escape from this firing the police lost one FN rifle and a pistol. The other four police officers escaped from the scene and left Inspector Hove who was sitting on the police vehicle’s passenger seat, Sgt Mutungambera who was the driver and Detective Constable Mugova who was hiding underneath the motor vehicle after he had been shot.
During the commotion, the other police officers ran away leaving Inspector Hove “who was trying to open the locked passenger door“. Added police sources:
The armed man approached Inspector Hove and shot him twice in the head and left him unconscious.
Jaison Muvhevhi, a former Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer, then drove off in his vehicle towards the Mukamba area.
Inspector Hove was later rushed to St Mary’s Hospital where he was pronounced on by the hospital staff.
Detective Constable Mugova who had been shot is currently receiving treatment at Morris Depot Hospital.
Police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they have recovered the Toyota Allion vehicle dumped by Muvhevhi in the Chiduku area of Rusape.
According to ZBC News, police also recovered an FN rifle that the suspect had taken from the police officer he killed in Wedza.
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi also dismissed false messages circulating on social media that Muvhevhi had been arrested in Chipinge while trying to cross into Mozambique.
Muvhevhi is said to be a gold dealer who owns several mines in the Midlands province.