Two gang members shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Police detectives shot dead two members of the Red Axe gang who attempted to escape arrest early on Tuesday.

Police attempted to apprehend the two gang members after they were spotted robbing a motorist in front of the Sumber Waras Psychiatric Hospital on Jl. Latumeten in Grogol, West Jakarta.

West Jakarta Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Syahardiantono said the two gang members, who remain unidentified, appeared to be between 23 and 25 years of age.

The gang received its name from its practice of robbing motorists while armed with red axes.

Syahardiantono said a team of West Jakarta Police detectives were on patrol when they were alerted to the crime by the victim, who shouted for help.

Several detectives, led by Second. Insp. Wahyu, jumped out of their patrol vehicle and ordered the fleeing suspects to stop, but the two suspects ignored, and the police shot them.

Police retrieved two red axes from the bodies, as well as a cellular phone and a wallet belonging to the robbery victim, Suryono, 25, a resident of Jl. Jembatan Besi in West Jakarta.

According to the police, Suryono was traveling to Kota from the direction of Jl. Daan Mogot when he became caught in traffic congestion in front of the Sumber Waras hospital, as a number of vehicles attempted to make a U-turn.

The two gang members then appeared on both sides of Suryono's car and ordered him to hand over his cellular phone, wallet and watch.

After handing over his valuables, Suryono shouted for help when he spotted the nearby police car. (01)