marine1
Honorary Master
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2502669,00.html
Well done to the SAPS !!
Durban - Store manager Krish Pillay of the Shoprite supermarket in Durban was killed on Thursday while getting staff and customers to safety after gunmen stormed the shop.
Three armed robbers were also killed in the incident at the busy Montclair shopping complex.
The drama began when five armed robbers burst into the store and held staff and customers at gunpoint while they demanded money from the cash tills.
The store, on the corner of Kenyon and Howden Roads, soon became a battleground when police snipers and hostage negotiators entered the store.
The men fired several shots inside the store which sent staff fleeing for cover.
Outside the store, bystanders ran for cover after hearing shots from inside. Many who had stopped to watch the dramatic hostage ordeal told The Witness that all they heard was screams for help and gunshots.
Some bystanders even broke down as they watched paramedics try to resuscitate Pillay, who sustained a fatal gunshot.
Fire exchanged
Police spokesperson Vincent Mdunge said that the police entered the store and confronted the suspects who then opened fire in their direction.
"One of the bullets hit the manager. Police feared for their lives and returned fire. Three suspects were shot dead," he said.
Sapa had earlier quoted Mdunge as saying that Pillay was killed before police arrived on the scene.
Pillay, who was shot in his abdomen, was then dragged outside by members of the SAPS Dog Unit. This is contrary to earlier Sapa reports which said that the store manager's body was thrown outside by the robbers.
Eyewitness Vee Singh, a Shoprite employee and the sister of ANC MP Omie Singh, said that she had just returned from her lunch break when she heard her colleagues scream for help.
Staff lock themselves in canteen
"I just saw everyone running up the stairs. I heard the shots and knew I had to hide somewhere," she said.
Singh said that the staff and a few customers locked themselves in the canteen while the gunmen were downstairs.
"At this stage, Krish was still downstairs trying to get everyone to safety. We all thought that the robbers were going to shoot us," she said.
Singh said the gang ran up the stairs to escape via the top exit, however they were confronted by the police and shots were fired.
"They banged a metal gate to escape but they couldn't. We then heard gunshots. Everybody started screaming because we all thought we were going to die," she said.
Traumatised staff were released after police snipers conducted a sweep of the entire building. Once outside, many broke into tears while others were too shocked to even speak. Some just held each other.
Family members break down
Pillay's family members arrived shortly after the shooting. His wife and sisters were hysterical when they saw his body, covered in foil, lying near the entrance of the store. His bloodstained clothes were visible to the public, standing a few metres away.
One family member broke through the police barrier to identify the body. All she could say was: "They shot him, they shot him."
Police had to restrain emotional relatives and move them to another area so they could be counselled. Some of Pillay's relatives just stared at his body in disbelief.
Police have now launched a massive manhunt for the two suspects who escaped from the store.
Mdunge said that a special task team will investigate the robbery and hope to apprehend the men soon.
"These suspects will be linked to other robberies in Durban. Members of the Organised Crime Unit will be investigating," he said.
Friendly and popular
Meanwhile regular shoppers and residents have expressed shock at Pillay's tragic death. He was well-known in the area and was popular with both his staff and customers.
Denise Peterson, a regular customer at the store, described Pillay as a friendly, considerate person who always had time for his customers.
"He was never too busy for a chat and always went the extra mile for everyone. It's so sad that he had to die in such a horrible way," she said.
Thursday's robbery was the sixth robbery at the store in five years. In May 2008, staff were held at gunpoint by a gang of robbers.
No security
Steven Myburgh, whose wife Michelle was pistol-whipped in the latest incident, said that the store's weak security system made it a soft target for criminals.
"They never bothered to put in decent security. Even the cameras don't work in the store," he said.
Myburgh said his wife still had flashbacks from the previous robbery and had to go for counseling.
"I can't believe that this has happened again. An innocent man has lost his life," he said.
The Shoprite Group also expressed its heartfelt sympathy to its staff and customers.
- The Witness
Well done to the SAPS !!
Durban - Store manager Krish Pillay of the Shoprite supermarket in Durban was killed on Thursday while getting staff and customers to safety after gunmen stormed the shop.
Three armed robbers were also killed in the incident at the busy Montclair shopping complex.
The drama began when five armed robbers burst into the store and held staff and customers at gunpoint while they demanded money from the cash tills.
The store, on the corner of Kenyon and Howden Roads, soon became a battleground when police snipers and hostage negotiators entered the store.
The men fired several shots inside the store which sent staff fleeing for cover.
Outside the store, bystanders ran for cover after hearing shots from inside. Many who had stopped to watch the dramatic hostage ordeal told The Witness that all they heard was screams for help and gunshots.
Some bystanders even broke down as they watched paramedics try to resuscitate Pillay, who sustained a fatal gunshot.
Fire exchanged
Police spokesperson Vincent Mdunge said that the police entered the store and confronted the suspects who then opened fire in their direction.
"One of the bullets hit the manager. Police feared for their lives and returned fire. Three suspects were shot dead," he said.
Sapa had earlier quoted Mdunge as saying that Pillay was killed before police arrived on the scene.
Pillay, who was shot in his abdomen, was then dragged outside by members of the SAPS Dog Unit. This is contrary to earlier Sapa reports which said that the store manager's body was thrown outside by the robbers.
Eyewitness Vee Singh, a Shoprite employee and the sister of ANC MP Omie Singh, said that she had just returned from her lunch break when she heard her colleagues scream for help.
Staff lock themselves in canteen
"I just saw everyone running up the stairs. I heard the shots and knew I had to hide somewhere," she said.
Singh said that the staff and a few customers locked themselves in the canteen while the gunmen were downstairs.
"At this stage, Krish was still downstairs trying to get everyone to safety. We all thought that the robbers were going to shoot us," she said.
Singh said the gang ran up the stairs to escape via the top exit, however they were confronted by the police and shots were fired.
"They banged a metal gate to escape but they couldn't. We then heard gunshots. Everybody started screaming because we all thought we were going to die," she said.
Traumatised staff were released after police snipers conducted a sweep of the entire building. Once outside, many broke into tears while others were too shocked to even speak. Some just held each other.
Family members break down
Pillay's family members arrived shortly after the shooting. His wife and sisters were hysterical when they saw his body, covered in foil, lying near the entrance of the store. His bloodstained clothes were visible to the public, standing a few metres away.
One family member broke through the police barrier to identify the body. All she could say was: "They shot him, they shot him."
Police had to restrain emotional relatives and move them to another area so they could be counselled. Some of Pillay's relatives just stared at his body in disbelief.
Police have now launched a massive manhunt for the two suspects who escaped from the store.
Mdunge said that a special task team will investigate the robbery and hope to apprehend the men soon.
"These suspects will be linked to other robberies in Durban. Members of the Organised Crime Unit will be investigating," he said.
Friendly and popular
Meanwhile regular shoppers and residents have expressed shock at Pillay's tragic death. He was well-known in the area and was popular with both his staff and customers.
Denise Peterson, a regular customer at the store, described Pillay as a friendly, considerate person who always had time for his customers.
"He was never too busy for a chat and always went the extra mile for everyone. It's so sad that he had to die in such a horrible way," she said.
Thursday's robbery was the sixth robbery at the store in five years. In May 2008, staff were held at gunpoint by a gang of robbers.
No security
Steven Myburgh, whose wife Michelle was pistol-whipped in the latest incident, said that the store's weak security system made it a soft target for criminals.
"They never bothered to put in decent security. Even the cameras don't work in the store," he said.
Myburgh said his wife still had flashbacks from the previous robbery and had to go for counseling.
"I can't believe that this has happened again. An innocent man has lost his life," he said.
The Shoprite Group also expressed its heartfelt sympathy to its staff and customers.
- The Witness
