Cape Town - A Cape Town policeman was shot dead in cold blood outside his home on Monday in a suspected robbery.
The father of three, who was on duty and dressed in full uniform, was left for dead a short distance from his front gate, lying in front of his official vehicle.
The City of Cape Town is offering a R50 000 reward for anyone with information regarding the murder of Metro Police Constable Ben Koopman.
Constable Koopman, 53, or Oom Ben as he was affectionately known, was robbed of his service pistol and radio outside his home in Devon Park, Eerste River.
The radio was later found a short distance from the scene.
It is believed the cop was killed in front of one of his children and a friend.
Read: Reward offered for metro cop’s killers
His devastated wife arrived home from work to the tragic news.
Eyewitnesses say two armed suspects fled the scene on foot and escaped in a vehicle parked in the next road.
A shocked resident, who did not want to be identified, says she was on her way from a nearby tavern when she witnessed the shooting.
The 27-year-old woman said: “I saw two men walking towards him. He was on his way back to work after lunch.
“They came from behind and then they covered his eyes, and then they shot him. There was no fight.”
Another resident, who also didn’t want to be identified, believes the constable was followed.
“They must have been watching him for a long time,” the woman said.
“They know he comes home at the same time every day for lunch.
“He was such a nice person, never did anyone any wrong.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Andre Traut could not confirm the motive behind the attack.
“At approximately 3pm, a 53-year-old Metro Police Officer was fatally wounded close to his residence in Avon Street, Devon Park, Eerste River, by two armed suspects who fled the scene with his service pistol and his hand radio,” Traut said.
* Any person with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Daily Voice