Criminals in Ndola have gunned down two police officers from the flying squad (C5) while police also managed to kill two gunmen after an exchange of fire.

Copperbelt Province police commissioner Charity Katanga has confirmed the development to News Diggers! in an interview today, adding that the gun fight left a member of the public injured in the right arm above the elbow.

Katanga named the police victims as Sergeant Benard Chilubula of Anti Robbery squad and Francis Kunda also a Detective Sergeant of Anti robbery squad.

“The two criminals, one is called Phiri who was with Rasta. The two criminals are aged above 35 years old and their bodies are in Ndola central hospital mortuary. Equally the two bodies of the police officers are in Ndola central hospital mortuary. The member of the public is Erick Zulu a brick layer aged about 30 years old,” Katanga said.

“Two pistols were recovered and one shotgun, a Greener and a Toyota Corolla vintage which the criminals were using has also been recovered and parked at police.”

Katanga said the incident happened around 10hrs when the criminals stole K300 thousand cash from star bakery in Ndola and were being trailed by police.

“When they were trailed in Musumbi area, there was an exchange of fire where one police officer was shot at on the shoulders and died instantly. The others cintinued exchanging fire and that’s how one criminal was killed. Then later on the other one who was injured by Police also injured another police officer and whilst at the hospital that is when he succumbed to his injuries,” said Katanga.