Cop shoots his gun, hits partner and bystander

A policeman's bid to save his colleague from the wrath of a panga-wielding man went awry on Tuesday when he missed the man and shot and injured his colleague and a woman.

Police spokesperson Thulani Mkhize said the two policemen had been sent to a Wentworth house to investigate a complaint about the presence of a mentally unstable man. When the officers arrived on the scene a man threatened them with a panga. A struggle ensued and one of the policemen fired a shot at the man and missed. The bullet struck a woman who was walking on the other side. His second shot struck his colleague.

Witnesses said the mentally unstable man fled and was later apprehended.
It was not immediately known why the two policemen had been sent to apprehend the man.

A spokesperson said both the woman and policeman were shot in the right leg above the knee. Mkhize said a decision would be taken on Wednesday as to what action would be taken against the policeman. Article here.