Three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police in the early hours of Wednesday, 31 January 2024. Police received intelligence that a group involved in serious crimes including murders committed in the Inanda area were hiding at the Lungelani Informal Settlement in La Mercy. A team comprising of various police disciplines including members of the Hawks descended on the location. Realising that they were surrounded, the suspects opened fire at the police and a shootout ensued. Three suspects were fatally wounded during the shootout and two pistols were found in the possession of the suspects. It is believed that other members of the group managed to escape during the shooting. The operation continues in search of other suspects who have been terrorising the residents of KwaZulu-Natal and police will stop at nothing in the execution of their Constitutional mandate of combatting, preventing and investigating crime.