A known criminal wanted by Lae Police for a string of robberies was killed and four of his gang members arrested on Saturday at the outskirts of the Morobe capital.
From a police brief released by Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jr to Loop PNG, the deceased is Timson Bruce, also known as Whitey.
He was wounded when rounded up by Police and died from the injuries sustained.
Lae Police boss Wagambie Jnr said Bruce was a suspect in the Pelgens armed robbery where police were involved in a shootout at the West Taraka Junction, an armed robbery at Bulolo where they impersonated police, and many other crimes.
“Good police work and intelligence gathering enable the wife of the deceased to be intercepted with two other accomplices on their way to meet up with the criminal who were armed,” Wagambie Jnr said.
“The gang members had left West Taraka and where hiding in the thick bush at the back of Munum and Nasuapum Villages along the Markham Highway. The location of the hideout is only accessible by foot.
“Whitey was shot in the thigh when police raided the area. He was armed with a factory made .38 pistol which was loaded (pistol seen in the picture).
“Six bullets were taken from the possession of the deceased which included two empty shells.
“Police moved the gang members to the main road to meet up with police vehicles. The distance of working was quite long (far) and the known criminal died from his injuries.
“The four accomplices and the deceased wife are now in police custody and are being interrogated by CID before charges are laid,” Wagambie Jnr stated in the police brief.