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They said they were investigating a case of theft of a laptop before being allowed into the house.

They later produced two pistols before holding hostage Mrs Beverley Morgan, her two gardeners and a maid while waiting for
her husband to arrive later that evening.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara confirmed the incident adding that investigations were still in progress.
“We are investigating a case in which a Banket man was shot during exchange of gunfire with four armed men.
“The men had besieged his neighbour’s house, held hostage before kidnapping the man when he arrived in a bid to collect more money at his service station in Banket,” he said.

While in the house, said Insp Mabgweazara, two of the robbers reportedly produced pistols and pointed them at Mrs Morgan and held her hostage together with the maid Shiella Garande (41) in one of the rooms.

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At around 6:10pm, the gardeners –Johanne Zuze (33) and Randy Muzondwa (41) — arrived and were also taken hostage.
The gunmen ordered Mrs Morgan to give them money whereupon she gave them US$400, a Nokia and Samsung cellphones.

A few minutes later, Mr Morgan, who owns Morgan Service Station in Banket, arrived and was immediately handcuffed before they ransacked the house and took a laptop, US$1 200 cash and a rifle with 50 live rounds.
The gang felt the loot was not enough and ordered Mr Morgan to produce keys to the safe and accompany them to the filling station for more money.

Two of the men force-marched the businessman into his Toyota Hilux double cab while the others drove in their white Honda CRV getaway car.
Those left in the house managed to untie themselves and sought help from a neighbour and Mr Nicholson and two others made a follow up.
On approaching the 1,5kilometre peg along the Banket-Raffingora Road, the rescue party saw the robbers parked on the side of the road.

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Mr Nicholson shot at the robbers using his pistol and they returned fire.
He was shot on the chest and collapsed and the robbers took advantage and drove off at high speed with the loot in their getaway car, leaving Mr Morgan in his car.
Mr Nicholson died on admission to Banket District Hospital.

Banket Police and detectives from Chinhoyi attended the scene and investigations are still in progress.
Insp Mabgweazara warned people against pursuing armed criminals.

“We are still pursuing the criminals but at the same time we would like to urge people to desist from confronting armed criminals on their own without the help of the police. These criminals are more dangerous because they took a bigger gun with ammunition,” he said.