Shoprite security guard shot to death at point-blank during store robbery
Heidelberg, South Africa Aug 5 2018
A security guard was shot dead when a gang of 15 men robbed a Shoprite supermarket in Heidelberg, south of Johannesburg on Friday evening.
A video shows the guard and one of the assailants embroiled in a scuffle at the entrance to Ratanda Mall. As they struggled, two more robbers entered the shop.
Both men shot the security guard at close range, before more men entered the premises and robbed it.
The group made away with an undisclosed amount of money.
According to police, officers who responded to the scene confronted the gang some distance away from the shop and an exchange of gunfire ensued.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Lerato Mngomezulu told News24 that one officer and a Fidelity security guard were shot in the crossfire. Both were taken to hospital.
“The cluster task team managed to arrest a male in possession of a firearm during follow-up operations,” she said.
In a statement to News24, The Shoprite Group confirmed it was working closely with the Provincial Investigation Unit (PIU) of the South African Police Service.
“The supermarket chain expresses its condolences to the guard’s family and is supporting them during this time. Staff members are being counselled to assist them to recover from this terrible ordeal,” the statement said.
