Cape Town - A young father was shot dead allegedly by robbers who were not impressed with his “cheap” cellphone.
Shaun May, 26, was gunned down inside the taxi he was robbed in on Saturday afternoon.
Shaun refused to give his father’s Nokia Asha 302 to the robbers, and they at first turned it down because it was “cheap.”
When the robbers realised they were not going to get away with much loot, they insisted on taking the cellphone, shooting Shaun in the process.
Shaun’s parents, Rodney May, 55, and Katy May, 54, say their son left their Delft home on Saturday with his father’s phone.
His grieving mother said Shaun’s son JJ, had been playing with the phone and he decided to keep it with him for safekeeping when he left for his construction job.
His mom said that she boarded a taxi later the afternoon with the intention of collecting the cellphone from Shaun but received bad news instead.
“He usually sleeps at his girlfriend’s place in Suburban but when I arrived there he was nowhere to be found,” said his mom.
“He must have been robbed and shot by then already.”
His mom said she and Shaun’s girlfriend then went to the Delft cop shop where officers broke the bad news.
She said Shaun died while refusing to give the robbers the cellphone.
“Everyone in the taxi was asked to give their bags,” she said.
“Shaun fought with them and said he will not give the phone because it is his father’s.
“When he refused they fired one shot at him and killed him.”
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “They [robbers] demanded money and the driver gave them a R10.
“In Leiden Drive, the passengers became suspicious and demanded to exit the taxi.
“A man stayed behind and they travelled further. En route the suspects demanded money and his cellphone.
“One of the suspects demanded to know what type of cellphone he has.
“After being told it was a Nokia the suspects declined the phone saying it is cheap.
“The man refused to hand over his valuables and a suspect drew a firearm and shot him.”
The Nokia is valued at just over R1 000.
No arrests have been made.
Daily Voice