A police reservist’s gun has been confiscated and she is to be investigated following a lunch-time shooting in the city centre.
Shoppers ran for their lives in the shooting drama in St George’s Mall that left two people injured, one seriously.
Several gunshots were fired and screaming customers at Mr Price in St George’s Mall were evacuated from the store after a man had been shot trying to take a gun from an on-duty policewoman reservist yesterday.
According to witnesses the man was arguing inside the store with a police reservist, apparently his girlfriend. He tried to take her gun before he was shot in the stomach and in a finger on his right hand. None of the shoppers was injured.
Shopper Bongiwe Kave said he was a few metres away when the scuffle started and the policewoman allegedly fired four shots. “He tried to take the gun from the policewoman but it got stuck. They struggled for the gun and she took it out and fired four shots. I think she hit him with one.
“It was crazy. I was so scared, people were running all over the store not knowing where the bullets were going. I tried to hide between the clothes but I was so frightened I got up and tried to get behind the counter but I fell,” said a shaken Kave.
Yolanda Yawa was passing by the entrance when she was grazed by a stray bullet. “I was by the front door and there was all this commotion coming from inside the shop. The bullet hit me on the arm. I ran for cover at the shop next door,” she said.
Police took her for treatment and counselling.
Several of the store’s windows had bullet holes in them.
Chad Thomas, a salesman at Cash Crusaders opposite Mr Price, said one of the bullets went into a wall at the store.
The man was handcuffed while lying on the ground before paramedics treated him inside the shop.
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz was on the scene minutes after the incident happened and said that it was a “pure domestic” dispute between the two.
Police spokesman Captain Ezra October said the 28-year-old man was under police guard at Groote Schuur Hospital. Police were investigating a case of common robbery.
He said store staff were counselled. - Cape Times